Violence in the Media — and Guns. This article is about a problem in our…
By: Bart Axelrod, Ep Martial Arts
Tags: Guns, Media, Videogames, Violence, Technology

This article is about a problem in our society and how we are trying to correct it.

We are reacting emotionally to the issue of violence and especially gun violence. We are being manipulated by those who benefit from the status quo. I feel qualified to express my opinion because I have been a victim of violence and I deal with violence and the aftermath of violence in my job as a paramedic. I am also a Krav Maga (Israeli Self-Defense) Instructor and I train in Judo. You could say that violence, and thinking about and training for violence, is a big part of my life.

I was raised with guns. I had a bb gun in elementary school. My dad owned many guns including shotguns, rifles, and handguns. We went shooting often. I got a 12 gauge Remington 1100 shotgun for my high school graduation present.

That being said I am a citizen in a society where violence is glorified in media from tv to video games to movies. The more disturbing, the better, and it bothers me. It bothers me because the violence in our society is jeopardizing our safety and ultimately our freedoms. Specifically our Second Amendment rights which is freedom to own guns to defend ourselves.

Growing up I was in big trouble if I pointed even a toy gun or a water gun at anybody. In other words, I was taught how to safely handle a gun.

As a parent I had a problem with violent video games like Grand Theft Auto. My kids played it and I was against it. I wouldn’t allow it in the house. Ultimately, though, I allowed it because they were just going to a friend’s house to play it so I figured I could at least monitor the kids if they played at our home.

I don’t see any redeeming qualities in making a game of shooting police, running people over, etc. Regardless of parental controls, young kids are getting their parents or older siblings to buy or lend the games so that all the nasty violence in that game is being played by teens and younger.

The moguls who got rich off this crap vote for and financially support candidates who want to repeal the Second Amendment. Their money talks, so what is an overworked middle class parent to do?!

At the same time we have a problem with real violence. People are hurting and killing each other. The total number of violent crimes in our country in 2018 was 1.21 million.

People mostly complain about the easy availability of handguns being a problem. As though if all guns were confiscated (from the honest citizens) the problem of violence and especially gun violence would be solved! In my view it is the saturation of our culture with glorified violence that helped create the conditions that lead to the current state of affairs.

You almost never hear this argument. It is because the media elites would rather utilize guns as a convenient scape goat while protecting their privilege to darken our collective consciousness with murder, torture, rape stories that are often so bad they can upset even well-balanced people. Remember, violence, like sex, SELLS!!

Exclude the violent criminal types who are probably not very influenced by media because they have real bad stuff going on in their lives; the problem is that unless a person is mature AND well-balanced they may very well be influenced in some negative way by media violence.

Though most people can keep things in perspective and not be seriously affected by media violence, a small number will become more depressed than they already are and act out with anti-social behavior. This can run the gamut from freaking out at home, smashing plates and maybe cutting themselves or at the extreme, attacking their schoolmates or coworkers with guns and bombs.

There has been a lot of discussion about the mentally ill and how they must not purchase guns. It is true that certain people with mental illness of certain nature probably should not be able to own guns, but I don’t think that’s a real problem.

I think the real problem is there is a constant barrage of blood and gore that saturates the media. This desensitizes the public to violence and at the same time makes huge money for the media moguls. They in turn support gun control.

A recent episode (real, not “Law and Order”) took place in Plainville, Mass. Last month, after watching the new and highly acclaimed movie “The Joker”, a son decided to stab his mother to death in their home, apparently an act inspired by a version of a similar event that happened in the movie.

Why wasn’t there any public outcry to ban easily accessible kitchen knives?! Maybe we should legislate that butcher block knife holders should have locks on them. As a paramedic in the suburbs, I have seen a lot more kitchen knife threats, attacks, and wounds than firearm use.

What, if any, solutions do I have to offer? It sounds quaint, but how about some good old-fashioned censorship? Self-imposed would be preferable but is that going to happen?

It wasn’t so long ago there were limits to the depravity that could be peddled in the media as entertainment. Granted, it could go too far, but we’re currently at the opposite extreme where “anything goes.”

I am also concerned about the easy availability of hardcore porn to 10 year olds on their smartphones. What are the implications for loving, normal relationships with these kids as they reach adulthood?

Nobody seems to care as long as Apple’s stock is rising. I’m beginning to think that smartphones should be banned, not guns.

If you agree or disagree please contact me at: info@kravmagaprovidence.com and let me know your thoughts.

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Bart Axelrod is a Krav Maga instructor at EP Martial Arts in East Providence RI and a paramedic in the Boston area.

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