I mean, Jonestown was kinda crazy just because of its proximity to MKUltra and several other high profile efforts by government agencies to manipulate public perception and behavior. Heaven’s Gate (and the Branch Davidians at Waco) have some similar parallels.
No shortage of speculation about how these organizations were originally formed, why they got such high profile media coverage relative to similar groups, and what turned them from somewhat goofy religious grandstanding exercises into deeply depressed suicide cults.
The ATF was found to have falsified charges initially to justify Waco. There was at least one federally licensed gun retailer at Waco. They were also using a loophole to modify rifles.
I mean, Jonestown was kinda crazy just because of its proximity to MKUltra and several other high profile efforts by government agencies to manipulate public perception and behavior. Heaven’s Gate (and the Branch Davidians at Waco) have some similar parallels.
No shortage of speculation about how these organizations were originally formed, why they got such high profile media coverage relative to similar groups, and what turned them from somewhat goofy religious grandstanding exercises into deeply depressed suicide cults.
The ATF was found to have falsified charges initially to justify Waco. There was at least one federally licensed gun retailer at Waco. They were also using a loophole to modify rifles.