Do Movies, Television, Music and Video Games Play a Role in Violent Behavior? [AUDIO]

In response to the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, State Senators Ray Lesniak and Shirley Turner have introduced a bill to address the issue of violence in New Jersey.  Among other things, the legislation would establish a task force to study the issue of violence and its root causes. What role, if any, the world of entertainment plays will be explored.

"I think part of the problem we have is that our children are being raised around violence, not just in the streets, but in the homes," says Turner. "They turn on TVs and there's nothing but violence. They go to the movies and there's nothing but violence. Even their computer games, their electronic games are all based on violent killing."

Turner feels kids have adopted a very low premium for life and thinks they don't place a value on life. She hopes the task force can shed light on the issue.

"I think they're acting out what they see and what they hear," explains Turner. "They're inundated with negative, violent music. A lot of the rap music is nothing but violence and abuse on women. I think it's a multi-faceted problem and our children are not being raised the way we were raised."

Study Commission on Violence will be tasked with making policy recommendations to reduce violence in the Garden State.

The measure would also declare violence a public health crisis in New Jersey, opening up the possibility of using funds from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mitigate the crisis and it would recommend the expansion of the use of involuntary out-treatment commitments and mental health courts to treat mental health issues before they erupt into violence and divert mentally ill offenders to court-mandated treatment.

The bill also recommends federal adoption of gun control measures.