I think that ultimately the big problem is that the populace no longer supports the original intent for the 2nd amendment. Even 2nd amendment absolutists have subsumed the original intent under the far more marketable "sporting use" and "self defense" and, to a lesser degree these days, "hunting". Characterize the 2nd closer to the original intent, to allow resistance to tyranny (especially that of your fellow citizens), and I'll bet support for the 2nd plummets.
