I’m going with 4) Desperation.
They see their narrow window closing.
They got Obamacare slammed through in a very small window,
and see the same small window for confiscation.
Yes, most of the leftists who are grounded in reality (few and far between) have to be seeing the hand writing on the wall and are desperate for that one last chance at disarming the people.
After all, the left’s Socialist national agenda can only be implemented at the point of a gun, and you can’t very well do that when the people can shoot back.
I would almost venture it’s almost two-fold answer - desperation on the part of leftist who know what is going on...
...and the assumption of inevitability on the part of those out of touch.