I'd miss the Zombies...

BeeTee · Jan 15, 2013

I think changing the narrative is the best way to derail the gun banners.

I'd like to see a bigtime movement that shifts blame to the TV, movie and gaming industries. No more gun violence in entertainment. Hollywood stripped smoking out of movies and TV programming quite some time ago, so the thought process is there. Some smoking still exists in entertainment, but it's mostly gone.

So, no more gun violence. No more cowboys and indians, no more war movies, no more spy movies, no more zombie movies, no more cop shows, and on and on and on.... To paraphrase the VP, "If it would save just one child's life, it would be worth it.".....

A much bigger case can be made that gun violence portrayed in the entertainment industry is more likely the blame for the recent shootings than are law-abiding gun owners. It's all Hollywood's fault.... Though I'd miss the zombies.... :wink:

DrMike · Jan 15, 2013

Good post, BeeTee. If the violence in movies and video games do not influence anyone, why do manufacturers spend billions advertising? Obviously, holding Hollywood accountable for their contribution to nut-jobs would go a long way toward changing the culture. They don't even necessarily need to rid shows of all guns if they were more consistent in avoiding the graphic sensationalizing of the killings and if the story line allowed for good guys to respond to evil appropriately.

BeeTee · Jan 15, 2013

Thanks Dr. I meant the opening to be somewhat tongue in cheek, but the new narrative would change the direction of any conversation about gun control. Imagine any talking head on TV asking an NRA spokesman/spokeswoman why we need semi-autos and high cap mags, and the NRA guy/gal replies by saying “why do we need gratuitous gun violence in entertainment?”. Matt Damon and Jeremy Renner (Jason Bourne) are on the record asking for more gun control, but they make their living shooting lots of people on screen.

Personally, I think sane and normal people know what’s real and are not a threat to society no matter what guns they have, but the crazy people are another story. It’s the crazy that are killing people with guns like those they see in movies.

Make Hollywood the bad guys.... Change the narrative.

DrMike · Jan 15, 2013

You are absolutely correct that well-balanced people are able to distinguish reality from entertainment. However, there are enough strange people who are lost in a fantasy world to do considerable harm. Worse, there appear to be a growing number of people who were not trained by parents, rather they were trained by television or by leftist masquerading as educators, and they are incapable of thinking or distinguishing between reality and fantasy. Perhaps a threat to fine any Hollywood producer who produces a movie that is emulated by a mass murderer. Make the fine sufficient to deter gratuitous violence--say 100 million dollars, or imprisonment--say ten years for each person slaughtered, and there would be a new look at the possibility that nut-jobs are influenced by fantasy. Zombies can be exempted, though I suppose there are always some who imagine that I look somewhat zombie-like as I shuffle along after climbing a mountain (or even one of the local hills).