And we almost don't notice, until a classroom is blown up by a shooter. When you stop and listen, however, violence is the background noise to children's everyday conversations and pastimes. If what they observe is violent, that's what they learn.
Younger minds are a different story.
Children who don't yet understand the difference between illusion and reality may be highly affected by video violence. The link between watching violence and engaging in violence continues up to about the age of 19. . . Hollywood endlessly congratulates itself for reducing the depiction of cigarettes in movies and movie ads. Cigarettes had to go, the film industry admitted, because glamorizing them gives the wrong idea to kids. But the glamorization of firearms, which is far more dangerous, continues. . . .