I feel like a lot of this is because non-crazy people find it harder and harder to justify identifying as a Republican.
There’s zero justification now. Oh, it’s because you’re a fiscal conservative? Okay, show me where that’s a Republican policy. Oh, it’s because you’re a blue collar worker? Okay show me even a single policy that has helped you. Oh, it’s because you’re a veteran? Okay, why would you support a party that nuked your benefits? Oh, it’s because you’re a Christian? Then why would you support a candidate who embodies every single deadly sin packed into one blubbery package? The GOP isn’t even a shallow shell of its previous ideals, it’s just a wacky-ass death cult.
Wild that Republicans are becoming more in favor of gun control. Probably because they’re seeing more people on the left–especially non-white, and non-straight people–getting strapped since both Republicans and Dems have utterly failed to address the causes of violence. (Hint: the tools of violence don’t cause violence.)
The change doesn’t really seem that great and there are years missing.
Also “Gun laws should be stricter” is too vague for the range of policies involved. When a gun control advocate says that they might mean bans. Someone else might be talking about opening up the NICS or want to improve the background checks somehow. There are also a lot of people who don’t actually know the existing laws and want “stricter laws” we already have.