MovieChat Forums > Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006) Discussion > The men with guns.

The men with guns.

posted 15 years ago by reade-1
4 replies | jump to latest

In this documentary the follower of Jones are depicted as moral people who unwittingly got sucked into a cult from which they could not escape. They were shown as victims who suffered for their misplaced trust or lack of guile.

But there was another group of Jim Jones followers, the ones who had guns and who were willing to murder unarmed reporters and inject children and babies. Who were these people? Where did they come from and what was their story?

Jones was clearly crazy but what of his private police force, were they crazy as well? Did they take their guns home at night? Did other members of the cult know that fellow church members were packing heat?

I feel bad for the children who died, but as for the adults, it seems to me that were the enablers. They were the coauthors of their own tragedy.

[–] joseph-hagee 14 years ago

The ones who carried weapons were among his most zealous,and therefore trusted followers.From what I've heard through other documentaries and read in my reading,there were always people with guns guarding the camp,supposedly to keep enemies out,but more likely to keep members in.
Were they crazy?I'd say no,they were just brainwashed into buying Jim Jones's vision of utopia,much like many Germans fell under Hitler's spell and committed atrocities in his name.

[–] The_Man_in_the_Planet 14 years ago

Also consider the ones who actually carried out the poisoning. Someone purchased the cyanide and the sedatives, and someone mixed the Flavorade. Marcy Jones was involved in this, as well as other members, and it took advance planning.

Next time you see me, it won't be me

[–] LuvvieHowell 12 years ago

It's a very good question. The idea of a utopian society in which everyone is treated fairly, and lives in peace and harmony doesn't exactly jibe with men carrying machine guns.

I'm having a hard time understanding exactly what the prevailing belief system fo the residents was...Jones started out as a Christian, but apparently never really believed in God. He called The Bible a book of fairy tales...was this belief shared with his flock?

[–] pitbullgirl65 10 years ago

I'm having a hard time understanding exactly what the prevailing belief system fo the residents was...Jones started out as a Christian, but apparently never really believed in God. He called The Bible a book of fairy tales...was this belief shared with his flock?

From everything I've read, Jones would "steal sheep" as they called it, from other churches, so I assume they were Christians. Also, quite a few were attracted by the ideals of the Peoples Temple, and some were down and out, (Stanley Clayton, Larry Schacht)

Here is an excellent link about Jim Jones and his membership in the Disciples of Christ also called The Christian Church.
http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2012-11/disciples-me