It was the declining gun purchases back in the 1980s, and hence declining profits, that stimulated the gun manufacturers to “invest in” the NRA and take over control from the citizen gun owners.
They turned the NRA into their marketing arm, pushing the meme that “liberals” wanted to take away all guns and supporting their interests by marketing their interpretation of the Second Amendment.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
As you can see above the whole amendment is predicated on the explicit context of “A well regulated Militia.” Arms in the hands of individuals outside well regulated militias are not explicitly guaranteed by this amendment, AND this amendment calls for regulations. You can’t have a well regulated militia without regulations.
But back to the money. Keeping this conflict alive is critical to the gun manufacturers because the threat of “taking your guns away” is the most potent marketing and sales program they have ever launched. It drives sales and gun hording by selling more guns mostly to the decreasing percentage of U.S. citizens who already own guns.
This is not an issue driven by legitimate gun owners. It is driven by the profit incentives of the gun manufacturers, and needs to be addressed as such.