Shonda Rhimes, Jimmy Kimmel Among 200 Hollywood Creators Pledging To Show Gun Safety On-Screen
ForbesDec 27, 2021
The Facts
In the aftermath of recent mass shootings, roughly 200 Hollywood creatives have signed a pledge promising to portray guns responsibly onscreen.
Released by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the letter asks Hollywood not to eliminate guns and gun violence but to be "mindful" of their depiction of onscreen weapons.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This is an important step in the right direction. Film and media are often a direct source of inspiration for gun violence, and Hollywood has a basic moral responsibility not to romanticize something that so often leads to tragic consequences in real life.
Establishment-critical narrative
Labeling filmmakers, actors, and producers "responsible" won't end gun violence. Every country has violent movies, yet none are dealing with mass shootings on a scale even close to the US. Of course Hollywood should stop romanticizing violence, but celebrity virtue signaling won't make any real difference; the only thing that will is drastic changes in policy and gun legislation.