...I believe virtue signalling is also something to consider....”Look at me...! I’m trying my darndest to ban these assault weapons [whatever they are...] but those damned gun-loving, Constitution-respecting, church-going, family-odriented conservative rednecks just won’t let me....!!”
Exactly. The female voter crowd is easily seduced with anything done in the name of “safety”. Look at covid for exhibit A.