It’s media generated fear and anger, the NRA led outrage about “my rights” shackled to the message that the minute you sign legislation to stop one mentally ill person buying an arsenal, your house will be swamped by drug crazed communist zombie rapists drawn here by the promise of Medicaid, all to keep profits buoyant and the populace afraid of each other, patrolling their perimeter instead of calling the government to task for the appalling state of the nation, but instead blaming “THEM”.
All our governments that are in chattel to corporations, do this. America is demonstrably the worst as they have allowed unchecked lobbyist to fund both sides to the extent where politicians of both persuasions are paid to not listen to those that vote for them and therefore must keep them in a state of anxiety.
If you check independent (if you can find them) polling from both republicans and democrats on gun control and health reform, you can see this.