Movies targeted at teens are more violent than ever. A study out of Ohio State University found that the instances of gun violence in PG-13 movies has increased in recent years.


According to reports from the study, gun violence has more than tripled in PG-13 films.[1]


"It's shocking how gun use has skyrocketed in movies that are often marketed directly at the teen audience," study leader and Ohio State University professor Brad Bushman said. "You have to wonder why we are seeing this surge in gun violence in PG-13 movies, when it isn't appearing in G, PG and R-rated films."


Levels of gun violence in R-rated movies continued at recent rates while instances fell slightly in PG and G movies, according to Bushman's work.[2]


The first half of 2013 was led by violence-filled movies at the domestic box office. The top three highest-grossing films by July were "Iron Man 3," "Man of Steel," and "Fast & Furious 6,"[3] all PG-13 movies with plenty of violent scenes.


There have been ongoing debates as to whether violent imagery in movies and television shows are to blame for real-life violence that takes place. Nicolas Cage, who has starred in his own fair share of violent films, gave his two cents earlier this year. "I feel horrible about the gun violence and I feel it inside," Cage said in an interview with The Independent.[4] "I don't think movies are the reason why this violence exists, I think it's going to happen whether movies are there or not."



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  • Increase Access To Background Check Data


    Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.




  • Remove Legal Barriers On Background Checks


    Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.




  • Incentivize Sharing Of Background Check Data


    Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.




  • Review Criteria For Gun Ownership


    Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.




  • Background Checks For Returning Seized Guns?


    Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.




  • More Guidance On Background Checks


    Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.




  • Safe & Responsible Gun Ownership


    Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.




  • Gun Lock & Safes


    Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).




  • Improve Gun Tracking In Criminal Investigations


    Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.




  • Report On Lost & Stolen Guns


    Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.




  • ATF Director


    Nominate a director for Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.




  • Training For Law Enforcement


    Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.




  • Maximize Enforcement Efforts On Gun Crime


    Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.




  • Increase Research On Gun Violence


    Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.




  • Prioritize New Gun Technology


    Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies




  • Clarify Obamacare On Doctors & Guns


    Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.




  • Inform Doctors On Reporting Threats


    Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.




  • School Resource Officers


    Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.




  • Develop Emergency Response Plans


    Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.




  • Clarify Scope Of Medicaid's Mental Health Coverage


    Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.




  • Finalize ACA Regulations


    Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.




  • Address Mental Health Parity


    Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.




  • Start Dialogue On Mental Health


    Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.