Study predicts that youth will be more interested in acquiring and using guns after exposure to gun violence in films.

Gun Violence In U.S. Movies On The Rise; PG-13 Levels Exceed R-Rated Films: Study - Deadline.com

A study out today in the journalPediatrics examines movies as a potential source of the so-called “weapons effect” whereby the presence of guns can increase aggression. American and Dutch university researchers found that in a 20-year period, gun violence in PG-13 films has more than tripled. Since 2009, PG-13-rated movies have contained “as much or more violence as R-rated films,” they said, and in 2012, violence in PG-13 movies was higher than for R movies. The academics suggested that because PG-13 movies are “especially attractive” to young people, producers may be “strengthening the ‘weapons effect’ by increasingly including guns in scripts that involve violence in the films youth are most likely to see.” Further, “The presence of guns in films also provides youth with scripts on how to use guns,” the academics wrote, suggesting future research to investigate that particular aspect of movie violence impact.