How Christian values are selling guns—and right-wing ideology

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     March 28, 2024 Ever heard of GunTube? I hadn't, until I read [this crazy story]( by Lila Hassan, published on our site today. GunTube is what, as Lila writes, extremism researchers call "an ecosphere of gun influencers whose videos peddle a wide range of conservative content." Their argument goes like this: Guns can help good Christian Americans defend against the hellscape the USA has become, as evinced by—you guessed it—the liberal media, gun control efforts, and Black Lives Matter protests. As Lila writes: While some of its most popular videos offer product reviews and shooting tips, they are accompanied by a wide range of political content, including interviews with conservative officials and activists. In weekly “T.Rex Talks,” Lucas and his brothers sit in a dimly lit studio [to discuss]( America in decay, and how like-minded, God-oriented people can save it. They often reference the end times and urge their viewers to seize control before things get worse. “They’re selling products,” says Max Rizzuto, another Atlantic Council researcher, “and the product is ideology, too.” As Lila's piece explains, this ideology also relies on patriarchy, among other things. So, in summary: Guns don't just [kill]( tens of thousands of Americans each year, they're also the latest tool conservatives are using to recruit more people—and men especially—to their cause. Don't miss Lila's story, as well as my colleagues' excellent coverage on [guns in America](. —Julianne McShane Advertisement [Share International]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [They Make Viral Gun Videos—With Hardline Christian Values]( T.Rex Arms sells gun accessories. According to one expert, "The product is ideology, too.” BY LILA HASSAN SPONSORED CONTENT BY THE NATION TRAVELS   [Mexico City: Politics, Culture and Day of the Dead]( with Oaxaca extension Oct 29 – Nov 3, 2024 Join us in this dynamic city during the wondrous Day of the Dead festivities – a truly magical time of kaleidoscopic sights, sounds and special events that surround this fun and moving Mexican tradition. Gain in-depth insight from leading journalists, activists, and artisans. [Trending] [Will RFK Jr. and other third-party candidates help doom democracy?]( BY DAVID CORN   [Sinking shores and rising seas will inundate 24 US coastal cities]( BY MORIAH MCDONALD   [Can a tribe's religious freedom claims halt a major copper mine?]( BY TAYLAR DAWN STAGNER   Advertisement [Share International]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [Ruben Gallego’s battle against Kari Lake could decide the fate of the Senate—and our democracy]( No pressure. BY ABBY VESOULIS MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   An important update on our finances We’re falling behind our online fundraising goals—and we can’t sustain coming up short on [donations]( month after month. It is [impossibly hard]( in the news business right now, and the [crisis]( facing journalism and democracy isn’t going away anytime soon. Neither is Mother Jones. Which is exactly why, despite the challenges we face, we just took a big gulp and [joined forces]( with the Center for Investigative Reporting, which creates the amazing podcast and public radio show [Reveal]( and other investigative projects. It’s going to be hard making it all work, and we simply can’t afford to fall behind our fundraising targets month after month. If you can part with even just a few bucks, [please support Mother Jones and investigative journalism with an urgently needed donation today](. And thank you so much to everyone who recently has. We’re grateful. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Share it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755