We were among the earliest proponents of civil rights. The UAHC was the first religious organization to protest America's aggression in the Viet Nam war. We also have held a continuous position opposing capital punishment, and have maintained continuous opposition to prayer in the public schools, and maintained support for the Jeffersonian principle of a wall of separation between church and state. We were among the first to support the gay rights movement, and took the position that sexual orientation is no bar to the rabbinate or any other area of Jewish leadership. I am not surprised.
Reactionary forces die hard.
When I was in the US army, we were told that we could only refer to our M-1s as rifles, and not as guns. Those who violated this were required to march up and down the parade grounds, with their flies open, and their genitalia hanging out. This is for killing and this is for fun. The vehemence of the NRA and its toadies tells me that they are protecting their guns. They are afraid of being emasculated, or afraid of being impotent, if they are not already.