I try and try, but I can't wrap my head around the way guns are viewed in America. One side is vehemently arguing in favor of being able to own something to defend their family, and the other is vehemently arguing in favor of living in a society where not every asshole can get a gun. Both sides are just trying to protect themselves, but each feels attacked by the other.

Then to top it all off, you have politicians arguing that corporations are people, yet there are no punishments handed out for arms manufacturers, essentially blindly, selling guns to anyone with a paycheck and a pulse.

A bit of a bait and switch. "Why don't you two groups of people scream at eachother, and make no progress, while gun manufactures / lobbyists do everything they can to drum up fear, and subsequently, sales."

Caught in a negative feedback loop.