As the nation faces the reality of massive gun violence, there is no question that the gun industry and the National Rifle Association must take some of the blame for the carnage.
But it is more complicated than that. The lack of proper parental upbringing of children is very evident as well, as anyone who observes the way children are allowed to behave in public places, and often has lack of parental supervision for a myriad of reasons, can testify to. Being a parent is a very difficult job, as this blogger can testify to, but in this age we are living in, too often parents abdicate their responsibilities for convenience, or in order to be “popular”. One cannot see parenting as a popularity contest, and one cannot be a “friend” of his children, but instead must be their model for future behavior and responsibilility.
At the same time, “pop culture”—meaning violent video games, and constant production of violent movies by Hollywood—must share a large load of the responsibility for instilling in children the images of constant violence with guns and other destructive instruments that promote death. Children are witness to constant carnage from a very young age, and for mentally unstable children and adults, this can lead to acting out in real time, as we sadly have seen multiplying in recent years. More intervention on mental health matters must be pursued, and if someone is shown to be dangerous, he or she must be reported to authorities, and privacy rights cannot win out over public safety, as too often has happened in recent tragic events.
So those in the video games industry, and directors in Hollywood who enrich themselves on the promotion of bloodshed and violence must be held accountable, and the American people have already indicated that these industries have a responsibility to prevent their profit motive from adding to the tragedy of gun violence, as much as the gun industry and the National Rifle Association.
Ultimately, better parenting is required, so as to monitor children utilizing video games, and the desire to watch violent movies. If people, with their money, refuse to buy video games and to attend showings of violent movies, those industries will have to reform themselves, due to the action of parents and adults.
It is time for action, not just talk!
I don’t know if violent video games or movies can really be blamed to such a large degree. I will readily admit they probably play a role but these things have ratings and if parents are allowing their children to get their hands on products they shouldn’t have at certain ages, then I feel that is more the parent’s responsibility.
I mean before television was as wide spread as it is, you had novels and some of them even some children have always read are filled with violence of various forms. The lord of the rings, The chronicles of Narnia, Dracula, The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, Robin Hood. etc Even early television like westerns from what I recall of seeing reruns on T.V land lol Comics in the 40’s had Captain America and Superman fighting the Nazi’s, pop culture glorified criminals like Bonny and Clyde. Violence has always been around in one form of another I just think with the advent of better technology it has just become easier to get a hold of. Parents just don’t pay attention like you say and don’t take the time to explain to their kids if they choose to let them have such things that it is fantasy and that violence is wrong.
I mean personally as a kid I was allowed to read whatever I wanted as I have always had high reading comprehension and always have loved to read, I read all the classics like the ones I mentioned above. But I was only allowed to watch Disney movies or cartoons for the longest kind of time until my parents felt I was mature enough to make my own choices about what to watch around the time I entered 4th grade. I have always had a clear grasp that fiction is fiction and just because it happens in fiction and might be entertaining doesn’t mean it is right for actual life. My parents made sure I understood this. It’s like you say parents just don’t pay attention anymore. But I have not become a violent mass killer or anything even though I watched violent stuff and played some violent video games as a kid.
I completely agree with you that parents need to be paying attention and doing their jobs. I also agree mental health needs to play a role. I just don’t agree so much on the point that pop culture and the entertainment industry deserves as much blame for the state of things. I mean it is their right to produce the products they do, and there are ratings and other forms of restrictions in place, most of the hyper violent stuff children aren’t even supposed to have. If they have it is not really the fault of the people who produced it, it is the fault of whoever didn’t pay attention and let them have it in the first place so they would be out of the parents hair for a while. Even parents who know their kid is unstable or not mature enough to handle or understand the content as pure fiction.
I like to use Family guy as an example. It is animation… yes it is not for children, definitely not designed for children. It is for teens and adults, it airs on fox around 9-10 sometime in that area, on adult swim midnight or later, it is never on at a time a child should be watching t.v. Yet parent groups like to throw fits about it, instead of just making sure their kids are not watching something that is not even meant for them to begin with.
I mean especially when it comes to violent video games… Someone needs to buy it for them they cannot walk into the store and buy it even if they have money, they need someone of a certain age to buy it for them. If they have it someone is enabling them.
Personally I do not watch movies or T.V or read books that use violence just to sell, it needs to have a relevant plot purpose, for me to be okay with it. I do agree people who produce products that are pure violence just for violence sake are deplorable but they have the right to do it as long as they abide by the laws concerning the sale of their items.
Ali, I cannot disagree with what you are saying, but somehow, if the gun industry, the video game industry, the entertainment industry in Hollywood, and even parents deny any responsibility for what happens with their children who become violent young adults, how are we to make America safer? Is the answer for everyone to have a gun? That is a horrible scenario, reminding us of the Wild Wild West, and is unacceptable, when violence is so low in other western style democracies!
I think education needs to be taken seriously again in this country. We were a lot better off educationally when violent crime was lower even in our own history. It is not a coiencidence that violent crime by young offenders goes up when our educational system is in shambles.
I think we need tighter restrictions when it comes to the purchase of violent content, I mean it is technically illegal for a parent to give an minor alcohol, I think something might be worked out along those lines. Not sure what they could do but probably some measures could be taken. I honestly believe if parents were charged when their kids do something wrong (serious wrong as in crime) more often it would cause parents to remember that their children are their responsibility. I believe there are certain cases where you can charge the parents in connection to a crime a child committed if you can prove that they were neglectful to the extent it enabled their child’s crime, like letting a kid drink at home then he goes out and kills someone while drunk driving or something like that. I think examples need to be made even if they don’t get convictions but a definite message needs to be sent that society is a babysitting service for children.
The entertainment industry is not going to change, it makes them money and as much as I agree with you that some of their content is just plain irresponsible I find it more likely to think that parents might take more responsibility before the industry stops trying to make money. I agree the irresponsibility of the NRA, parents and the entertainment industry is disheartening but I believe of the three parents are the ones who might actually change their tune. Really if a parent is not looking out for a kid who will?