WHDH-TV -

Josh Marshall uncovered this bit of video about Nancy Lanza, the mother of elementary school shooter Adam Lanza.

WHDH-TV:

“Last time we visited with her in person we talked about prepping and you know, are you ready for what can happen down the line when the economy collapses,” said the gunman’s aunt, Marsha Lanza.

The reporter asked, “Survivalist kind of thing?” “Yea,” said Marsha Lanza. Nancy’s guns were supposed to be for self defense. Marsha Lanza called her nephew a special needs child. So far, no motive has been released.

The Daily Mail has a similar report about Lanza, identifying her as a member of the Doomsday Preppers movement. There are many errors in that article, so take that for what it's worth. But it does comport with what Marsha Lanza said about her.

Doomsday Preppers is a show that airs on the National Geographic Channel. It profiles people who are preparing for the end times by stockpiling and training their children in firearms handling. Here's a video of a father teaching his daughter how to use a gun.

They even have a free iPhone app/game so preppers can make sure they're the best prepped on the block. Here's the promo:

Doomsday Preppers players will be challenged to build the best-equipped bunker, constructing “prepping” floors and assigning fellow preppers to help prepare and store materials needed to survive any major catastrophe.

There's a Doomsday Dashboard so that preppers can keep track of the Apocalypse of the Day. You can get your "prep score" and suggestions for stockpiling food and supplies for the inevitable meltdown. Followers can choose which meltdown they think will happen first: Oil shortage, food shortage, catastrophic earthquake, economic meltdown, or disease.

Whether or not Lanza's survivalist beliefs contributed to her son's meltdown, I really see this show as something made by and for wingnuts. If you're unfortunate enough to get hooked on this series, it comes with the attendant fear and sense of powerlessness used to control people, even as it claims to empower people to be in control. At best, it's fearmongering. At worst, it's manufactured fear to bolster sales of guns, gold and MREs.

I am curious. Who advertises on this show, who produces it, and who benefits from it? Even if this show didn't exacerbate what was already a difficult and anxious situation in that household, it encourages people to believe that community is never any part of a disaster, that individuals must be prepared to operate individually without regard to their neighbors or community. That encourages the kind of insanity we see from Glenn Beck and the right wing nutcases on a near-daily basis. Because I no longer believe anyone creates popular entertainment without some benefit to the money backers who pay for it, I would like to know who profits from creating an atmosphere of fear and loathing.

If you know, leave a comment and enlighten the rest of us.