Washington, D.C. — Today, the Center for American Progress Action Fund released a new analysis of Republican campaign advertisements. The analysis finds that at least 104 MAGA Republicans have used guns and other deadly weapons in campaign ads, with more than half featuring sniper rifles, blowtorches, or assault weapons similar to those used in the Uvalde, Texas; Highland Park, Illinois; and Buffalo, New York, shootings.
The analysis also finds that roughly 1 in 4 Republican campaign ads featuring guns include threats of various kinds, including 11 leveling threats against the government. At least five ads promote an AR-15, “Tommy” gun, or .50-caliber sniper rifle giveaway, while four ads feature minors brandishing guns.
“This analysis shows that rather than work to diffuse political acrimony and dial down extremism, the MAGA Republican Party’s response to the events of January 6 and increasingly deadly gun violence has been mainstream threats and use of deadly weapons to appeal to voters—making the prospect of more violence a real possibility,” said Will Ragland, senior director of research at CAP Action.
Read the column: “Guns and Political Violence Play Central Role in MAGA Republican Campaign Ads” by Will Ragland, Ryan Koronowski, Danielle Dietz, and Alexandra Mork
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202-741-6292.