I think there is missing context to your example argument. Which is usually they know or believe they know your ideology. This belief leads to their irrational reaction to your criticism, which they likely see as your attempt at promoting your ideology. So they are not responding to what you are saying rather they are responding to some perceived higher goal.

But ultimately they are being programmed to respond that way. For example, they are shown, on TV or in an article, some anecdote that only gun nuts care about gun rights and they are presented as being people who care more about their toys and hobby over the slaughter of innocent people and safety of society, and trying to have a rational dialog with someone programmed like this is impossible, because the mere fact you are on the other side of the dialog they already think you are a gun nut trying to rationalize your hobby, not someone who thinks we are safer with guns than without.