Journey Through Time 25. The Marketing of Fear: Selling Guns to America (Ep 3)
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Aug 13, 2025 Delve into the NRA's powerful evolution from a safety group to a political titan, driven by fear and crime narratives. Discover the rising influence of armed citizens and militias in America today, with implications for the Second Amendment. Analyze the spike in gun sales during Obama's presidency, tied to racial tensions and increasing violence. Hear about historical parallels that shape current gun legislation, emphasizing the need for a historical perspective in today's heated debates. It's a riveting exploration of gun culture and politics!
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NRA's Political Reinvention
- The NRA shifted from gun-safety club to fear-driven political machine in the late 1970s.
- Harlan Carter reframed guns as protection from crime, social upheaval and government tyranny.
History Was Rewritten To Justify Guns
- The NRA's takeover reframed gun control as un-American and ahistorical.
- Recovering accurate history undermines that political narrative and reveals longstanding gun regulation.
Personal Link To Early School Shooting
- Sarah Churchwell recounts the 1988 Winnetka school shooting near her hometown that targeted second-graders.
- Her nine-year-old brother was in the class of intended victims, illustrating how rare school shootings once were.