This is a product of political polarization, tribalism, and, I'm afraid, of the choice of the NRA's leadership to become totally identified with the political Right. The gun issue has transcended the guns themselves and has become shorthand for a whole constellation of other issues. People that would otherwise be friendly to guns are turned off by the official spokesmen of the "gun world" crusading against "socialism," the counteracting of climate change, universal healthcare, etc. It doesn't help that so many in the gun world insist on calling liberals "liberals," "commies," and worse. In many cases, we are alienating our natural allies.
This forum is pretty good about avoiding divisive politics. On other gun boards, however, the vitriol is palpable. Statements about "hating commies" are more common than actual gun discussions. It's very disturbing, for example, that Augusto Pinochet, dictator of Chile, is being hailed as a hero for throwing leftists out of helicopters. The people that write this are not joking.