Disentangling the Link between Gun Ownership and Christian Nationalism in the US

• In Event: Developments in the Politics of Christian Nationalism

Abstract

Scholars and journalists alike have noted the link between Christian nationalism and guns in America (Cooper-White 2023; Seto and Upenieks 2023; Whitehead, Schnabel, and Perry 2018; Whitehead 2023). Scholars have consistently demonstrated how Christian nationalism impacts attitudes toward guns and gun control, but we know little about the power of gun ownership itself in predicting an adherence to Christian nationalism. Using original, large-scale data, I find that gun ownership on its own is not significantly associated with Christian nationalism. Gun owner identity, race, and church attendance, however, all interact with gun ownership in ways that deeply impact an individual's beliefs about Christian nationalism. My findings help clarify this relationship in ways not yet done empirically.

Author

• Abigail Vegter, William Jewell College