Monday, February 27, 2012

Hollywood Celebrities for Gun Control


Guns and Ammo has a post listing a number of Hollywood celebrities who favor gun control in spite of the fact that they profit from films exhorting gun violence.

Hollywood’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. While its multi-million dollar movie stars cash in on shoot ‘em up thrillers and cop dramas, they openly move to restrict gun ownership in this country. When the lights turn off and the cameras stop running, these stars put down their prop house guns and pick the Brady Campaign banner. When a fortune is made on the portrayal of guns on the silver and small screen and that cash turns into donations to the anti-gun lobby, it should make every Second Amendment supporter think: Where is my money really going?

Fame is a powerful weapon, and it’s hard to believe that these celebs have anti-gun leanings. But they do.
I don't know if it's fair to call that hypocrisy. Perhaps these people, unlike the gun-rights advocates, know how to separate fantasy from reality. In the fantasy world of film, anything goes, but in the real world of common-sense legislation to diminish gun violence, we need to be more responsible than the folks at Guns and Ammo would like.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

21 comments:

  1. Celebrities know nothing more about guns than Michael Jordan knows about underwear. The real question is why we pay attention to these people outside of their professional activity.

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    1. I don't know if that's right, Greg. I would think Sly Stalone knows more about automatic weapons than I do. Even if they're replicas, he's handled a lot of different kinds of guns. You learn something from that. Plus, pretending to kill people and make it look as realistic as possible must give one some idea of what it's actually like, certainly more than watching it on film.

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    2. Mikeb, Hollywood is famous for handing out bullshit about guns. Ever notice how in most action films, no one has to reload, except for dramatic effect? Ever notice how the good guy always hits his target with one shot, while the bad guys put more lead into the air than a 70s land yacht? Ever notice how the good guy's gun always works--no matter what caliber, size, or condition? Ever notice how everyone racks the slide, how suppressors work, how shooting from the hip is spot on?

      I could continue, but you see my point. Besides, listen to interviews with actors in these films. Most of them knew nothing when they arrived and get the minimal training needed to appear realistic.

      But if you want to see a film that portrays firearms accurately and is also a rare example of a classical tragedy, watch "Heat," with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

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    3. I loved Heat. But I lived in Miami in the early 80s, and that Don Johnson was one cool cat with a .45.

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    4. mike B - Don Johnson's character carried a Bren 10 - chambering the 10mm - Similar to the later 40 caliber smith and wesson round, but with a longer case and operating at a higher pressure. The 2 rounds are not intercahngeable. The Bren 10 never caught on due to scarce (and expensive) ammo and severe recoil.
      Also, the supreme court has established the right to keep and bear arms as an individual right. The fight is over. The NRA and similar orginizations are just trying to gin up outrage to raise money from the easily frightened.

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    5. The fight continues. Concealed carry in all states is the next right that we need confirmed.

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    6. David, thanks for the clarification on Miami Vice. My memory is a bit hazy, not that I'd know the difference between a 1911 and a Bren 10, necessarily.

      You say the fight is over, Greg says it's not because you need even more gun rights. I say it's not because the corrupt and paid-for Supreme Court made some bad decisions which will eventually be reversed.

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  2. I know for a FACT Mark Hamill opposes the legalization of Light Sabers. :)

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  3. Whether we listen to celebrities or not is a personnel choice. They have every right to an opinion as you do Greg. This is after all the USA where we all have a right to an opinion, even if it is baseless. For this take a look at the Tea Party or any other right wing group, almost 100% fact challenged, not to mention such luminaries as appear on right wing radio and television. Spouting nonsense is an American Tradition, just take a look at any of the remaining candidates in the Republican presidential primary.

    Mugsy I agree with Mark Hamil on light sabers, you could poke your eye out with one of those things.

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    1. I never said that they have no right to an opinion or to express that opinion. At the same time, we have the right to ignore them, and we need to do so.

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  4. Interesting to see Stallone and Schwartzenegger on that list.

    How difficult is it to understand that too many guns make too many deaths.

    Senilebiker

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    1. It's difficult to understand because it's not true. The object itself doesn't act alone. It requires a person to do something with it. Rather than asking for better behavior, your side just wants to prohibit opportunity.

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  5. Light sabers are all fun and games until someone loses a hand.

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  6. I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that Christian Bale doesn't actually support billionaires dressing up like bats as the best possible solution to street crime.

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  7. Like you said..they understand their films are fantasy and not reality. Not every gun owner sides with the NRA on the issue of gun control.

    I own two guns, I believe in that right. I'm just not mentally a 12yr old with a small weenie and a big imagination that thinks everyone should be able to carry them everywhere like Ted Nugent.

    Not every gun owner likes the idea of drunks in bars being allowed to pack heat..but the NRA and their boot-lickers in our state legislature made sure a law got passed allowing just that.

    I don't think they should be allowed in government buildings or courthouses either...but the idiots at the NRA cry foul and again..they pass an incredibly stupid law making it legal.

    We may all have the right to bear arms but that doesn't give us all the right to put the public in harms way.

    It also makes sense for inner cities where children are getting gunned down every day to ban or put severe restrictions on them. If you live in the suburbs or out in the country, you shouldn't get to decide they can't protect their kids because you think it violates your rights..you don't live there, mind your own damn business.

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    1. Which is to say, you don't believe that gun ownership is a right. Just tell the truth next time.

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    2. Anonymous sounds like another reasonable gun owner, Greg. Guys like him far outnumber guys like you.

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    3. Of course he sounds reasonable to you. He doesn't oppose any of your restrictions.

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  8. I don’t think Sly is a hypocrite for the movies he was in. I think he is a hypocrite for getting a CCW.

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  9. So, no more making money from their movies with guns in them right? Piss on the people, but I still want to make violent movies with guns in them....hypocrites!

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