The very next night there was a copycat incident in Boston, and certain segments of the population, mostly on the Left, seized upon the event to “prove” that violence in media led to violence in society. This quickly became a meme (as we would say today) despite psychologists across the country saying there was no evidence that media violence CREATED violence in the real world. A movie or TV show might suggest a METHOD, but the proclivity toward violence had to already exist.

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Thank you !!     This was a missing element of my point about violence in entertainment. --- Over time, it's created a mentality in, well, American culture that "violence is (part of) the answer".   Superman doesn't fly up to a bad guy and reason with them -- he violently subdues them -- because that's entertaining. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, etc  What I'm trying to say is PART OF THE PROBLEM is the social narrative in AMERICA (because we're not talking about fkn Japan or fkn Australia) is violence is akin to entertainment.   Not everyone out there has the Emotional Intelligence to process all this noise in harmless ways.  Not everyone out there has the emotional intelligence to simply process the noise as just entertainment.

I'm not saying it's THE problem -- I'm saying it's PART of the problem.  A society numb to knowing what is violence and what is entertainment -- some members of that society will make poor decisions eventually.

There's no way a few forum posts will sway anyone's opinion -- I was just raising a posit of discussion.  I just find it hypocritical in the extreme when people like Charlize Theron makes Sean Penn destroy his antique gun collection and then she goes on to film a ultra violent movie about a gun carrying female contract killer.

Lastly -- to MICHAEL ROBERTS -- I was in law enforcement. I've worked child murders, I've been to serial killer crimes scenes, etc.   I've seen the evil people do.  First hand -- not from the comfort of my couch.  Serial Killers are not fun, they're not entertaining.  There is nothing more sickening than seeing tv and movies glorify this horror.  You know what else is fkd up?  Bank robbery.  Why is it entertaining to watch movies and tv shows about bank robbers?  Wait, they're the fkn heroes in the movie??!!  WTF??!!   Have you ever been to a bank and had a gun shoved in your face AFTER the guy has shot someone else?  People regularly piss and shit themselves from the fear in the moment.  When the first responders arrive afterwards, victims are terrified, crying, sobbing.  They typically have PTSD for years.  Marriages fail, they lose their jobs, their kids in divorce, even suicide --- because very very bad people rob banks.   Oh, but lets all have a chuckle with George, Brad and Matt ripping off a casino!  What a fun night at the movies.

Again -- your mileage may vary.

We're so PAST THE POINT of inaction it's pathetic.

Let's REALLY hold these pathetic, money hungry lawmakers accountable. VOTE THEM OUT. Vote in better, decent people... who can tip the scales.

Sometimes it feels soooooo hopeless - but we should not give up. These children deserve a better future.

Yes, I'm angry.

-C!

I don' know of any movie that glorifies serial killers. Let's take the most recent example I can think of; the TV show Mindhunter. Anyone that finds this a glorification of serial killers is drawing those conclusions on their own. The show taught me how meticulous, calculating and dangerous serial killers can be when they are seeking a victim. I have seen many true and fictional crime stories. Not one has ever glorified crime or killing in my opinion. Can you cite some movies or television shows that you think glorify killing, Geoffrey?

There is a mental health issue, but there is also an issue with just how accessible guns are to mentally challenged people. Cars require testing, licensing and regular re certification. Why don't guns?.

You keep avoiding the question. Japan and Australia have the same social narratives, yet they don’t have the same issues with gun violence. Why?

I think this sums up why there is inaction:

*****

Simple - makes it EASIER to SELL guns, more money for those involved.

It's corrupt - plain & simple. Remember all the elected officials who are in bed with the gun lobby.

-C!

The reporter comes with cold hard FACTS and chickenshit Ted Cruz has no answers. 

Cruz says "don't make this political"... meanwhile, he jumps to blame democrats. What a joke of a politician he is.

-C!