"They" are losing their grip, and fear that the components of power that slip from their control will be turned against them.

Similarly, you will see that when it comes to 2A, they have a special emphasis in disarming veterans. One aspect, soft-pedaled so far, is the line that "veterans are inherently emotionally unstable and prone to self-harm and violence against others." Watch for the volume on thus to increase.

For historical context, research "dekulakization" by the Bolsheviks. They moved quickly to destroy the strongest potential source of resistance and resource base. Of course, we see this already with all Trump supporters being denounced as "far-right domestic violent extremists", "hooite supremacists" or just "nazis".