Guns were once a tool. Used for hunting, home protection, varmint control, etc. Most homes had one or two.
Gun manufacturers however were not moving enough product, because like most tools once you have one you don't need to keep buying. So, they made a conscious decision to switch the marketing of their products from a tool to a totem.
A gun is no longer a tool. It's a badge of your Americaness. A symbol of freedom.
That's why people don't need one or two. They now need 10. They need the one with the pink grip. They need the bumper sticker of an AR across the back window of their F-150.
It's brilliant marketing. One of the best campaigns ever.