EMERSON PUSHES FOR DIALOGUE ON YOUTH VIOLENCE

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson wants Hollywood to leave violence on the cutting room floor.

The Cape Girardeau Republican said she's encouraging the nation's entertainment industry to back away from graphic violence in movies, video games and on television.

Emerson is the chief sponsor of an amendment to a juvenile justice bill scheduled to be taken up by the House this week.

She and a handful of House colleagues, including Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, discussed the issue at a Capitol news conference Tuesday.

"The people on the left say this is a gun issue," Emerson said by telephone following the press conference. But she said the real problem is the nation's culture of violence.

Thirty years ago, the nation had few gun laws and no wave of high school shooting sprees, she said.

Today, there are 20,000 state, federal and local laws on the books dealing with illegal possession and use of firearms.

Emerson said her amendment doesn't call for another study on violence or impose new government regulations.

"Basically, it is a plea to the entertainment industry to take responsibility for the fact that they market violence to kids," she said.

Emerson's amendment calls on the entertainment industry to recognize the power and influence it has over the nation's youth and eliminate gratuitous acts of violence in movies, on television, and in music lyrics and video games.

Emerson said a national dialogue is needed on the whole depiction of violence and its impact on children.

Responsibility rests with not only the entertainment industry, but also parents.

Emerson said parents need to pay closer attention to the movies, music and video games that influence their children.

"I have monitored my kids pretty closely," said Emerson. "I know what movies they see."

Said Emerson, "We have to put our foot down and say, `no, no, no.'"

Emerson said Congress can help direct the debate on youth violence, but it can't solve the problem simply by passing a law.

"The bottom line is you can't legislate behavior," she said.

Society, she said, has to take responsibility for how violence is depicted.

"We've got to work together to give back to American families a sense of security and control over their own lives," Emerson said.