On Saturday, CNN weekend anchor Jim Acosta shoveled some predictable liberal activism by promoting an anti-gun group that lobbies teens by portraying guns as making people more unsafe and unseemly. That's despite many and all evidence on the benefits of safe, self-defensive gun use.
Setting up a pre-recorded piece by correspondent Polo Sandoval, Acosta trumpeted the group that claims it isn't part of "polarized" or "partisan debate" and not taking sides: "A group of young online influencers wants to change the gun culture they grew up in, and these Gen Z influencers are now taking to social media -- a coordinated campaign to try to curb the use of guns."
Sandoval eagerly began: "The next time you're scrolling through a social media stream of cooking content and how-to tutorials, you may be encouraged to be SNUG?"
After a soundbite of a young woman explaining that SNUG stands for "safer without using guns," Sandoval continued as though he were reciting a press release: "It's no coincidence that the acronym also spells 'guns' backward. SNUG is a social media gun violence prevention campaign driven by Gen Z content creators. It's organized by Project Unloaded, which is tackling the epidemic of gun violence one post at a time."
In spite of evidence to the contrary, the report then misinformed viewers by claiming that guns are the leading cause of death for children:
SANDOVAL: Pop culture and trendy topics are combined with gun violence statistics to target the same demo that's become increasingly victimized by gun-related homicides and suicides.
ELINA YAEL [on TikTok]: The leading cause of death for kids and teens in the U.S. is gun violence.
After introducing the founder of Project Unloaded, which claims that guns make people unsafer, Nina Vivek, Sandoval lamented that 2nd Amendment supporters sometimes counter-lobby teens on the issue:
Though the campaign tries, it's impossible to steer clear of Second Amendment politics. There's the occasional pushback and criticism in the comments. but overall, says Vivek, young users have been receptive to a message that simply owning a firearm might not make someone safer.
Then came a truly laughable soundbite of Vivek trying to downplay her group's anti-gun activism: "We're not trying to take away anyone's guns -- we're not trying to interfere with conversations that might be happening inside families. We're really just trying to make sure that young people have the information they need."
Word of advice: Anyone who says "we're not trying to take away anyone's guns" almost certainly does, in fact, want to take your guns away.
Worse yet, no mention was made of studies that find guns are used many times a year for self-defense.
This anti-gun propaganda was sponsored in part by Tempur-Pedic and The Farmer's Dog. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows. Click "expand" to read.
CNN Newsroom
September 2, 2023
4:50 p.m. EasternJIM ACOSTA: A group of young online influencers wants to change the gun culture they grew up in. These Gen Z influencers are now taking to social media -- a coordinated campaign to try to curb the use of guns. Here's CNN's Polo Sandoval with more.
POLO SANDOVAL: The next time you're scrolling through a social media stream of cooking content and how-to tutorials, you may be encouraged --
CLIP OF AD: What if you could just be SNUG?
SANDOVAL: -- to be SNUG?
ELINA YAEL [on TikTok]: Choosing to be SNUG -- "safer not using guns" -- means protecting yourself and others.
SANDOVAL: It's no coincidence that the acronym also spells "guns" backward. SNUG is a social media gun violence prevention campaign driven by Gen Z content creators. It's organized by Project Unloaded, which is tackling the epidemic of gun violence one post at a time.
MIRANDA MCWORTER [on TikTok]: Let's be clear, this is not a political thing, it's a safety thing, okay?
SANDOVAL: Pop culture and trendy topics --
LIV REESE [on TikTok]: Get ready with me while I share why we're safer not using guns.
SANDOVAL: -- are combined with gun violence statistics to target the same demo that's become increasingly victimized by gun-related homicides and suicides.
YAEL [on TikTok]: The leading cause of death for kids and teens in the U.S. is gun violence.
NINA VINEK, PROJECT UNLOADED: The SNUG campaign is aimed at teens between 13 and 17 before they've made up their minds when it comes to guns.
SANDOVAL: Nina Vinek is Project Unloaded's founder and executive director.
VIVEK: We are completely sidestepping the polarized, partisan debate that we've all seen play out over and over again on this issue. And that's why we're talking to teenagers. They can't even vote yet.
SANDOVAL: Though the campaign tries, it's impossible to steer clear of Second Amendment politics. There's the occasional pushback and criticism in the comments. but overall, says Vivek, young users have been receptive to a message that simply owning a firearm might not make someone safer. She leans on several sources in getting that point across.
VIVEK: We're not trying to take away anyone's guns -- we're not trying to interfere with conversations that might be happening inside families. We're really just trying to make sure that young people have the information they need.
ESTELLA STRUCK (showing off her biceps) [on TikTok]: These are the only guns I choose to have.
SANDOVAL: Estella Struck is a 22-year-old New York City content creator. How do you cut through the memes, the humor videos, and to actually try to get this important message to young people?
STRUCK: It's about portraying the information in a way that is digestible to the viewer and comes across as authentic.
SANDOVAL: No doubt, some young influencers have far reach. Just look at the turnout for what was supposed to be a social media influencer's product giveaway in New York City last month. Crowds spiraled into an out-of-control mob, but that same power can be harnessed for what Struck calls a greater good.
STRUCK: Influencers are not bad. [SCREEN WIPE] They actually have so much power to create genuine change in the world.
SANDOVAL: A change that may start young and online. Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.
ACOSTA: Polo, thanks for that.
