NEW YORK (AP)-- The sweeping proposals from President Barack Obama today for curbing gun violence put little of the focus on movies, TV and video games.
The White House pressed most forcefully for Congress to pass universal background checks and bans on military-style assault weapons like the ones used in the Connecticut school shooting.
The proposals include one that calls for research on the effect of media and video games on gun violence -- meaning that media won't be exempt from conversations about violence. But Obama didn't mention violence in media in his remarks today.
The plan issued by the White House did mention media, but it suggested that any effort to keep make-believe violence from inspiring actual violence would relate to ratings systems or technology. It said makers of entertainment programs and video games "have a responsibility to give parents tools and choices" so they can control what their children see.
In a joint statement, representatives of the movie industry, broadcasters and others said they "support the president's goal of reducing gun violence." The statement says they welcome "further academic examination" of these issues.
