Censorship and Regulation

Mothers Against Guns

Since its formation in 2002, Mothers Against Guns has worked with local communities and the government to raise awareness about gun crime and gun related violence in the UK. Statistics have risen dramatically in the last 10 years; from est 12800 in 1996 to a staggering 22800 in 2006. They use incidents such as the murder of Anton Hyman in 2004, to make strong points about how more people have to join their cause to prevent deaths such as this from happening again. In May 2005 they held a march to campaign against gun crime and to plea for someone to come forward to find Anton's killer. His mother said: "I hope we may have saved somebody's life by marching today."
BBC News Online: "The March to Find Anton's Killers"

As well as organising marches, "MAG" work to provide information to teenagers about the gun crime. Aimed at children between 13 and 15, it works to encourage teens to think about the consequences and effects that their actions will have on other people. AGE (Anti Gun [and Violence] Education) carries the overall poignant message that one irrational thought can change your life forever.

Mothers Against Guns also encourages others to set up groups to try to prevent more teenagers from becoming victims or even perpetrators of gun crime int he UK. They promote themselves with high profile campaigns such as marches like the one for Anton, and get the support of celebrities and politicians such as David Cameron on their side. One of their more recent campaigns is fighting for the outright ban of replica gun sales in the UK.
London Against Gun and Knife Crime: Mothers Against Guns


Media content that MAG would find problematic, would most probably be video games. Games such as Grand Theft Auto which has been around for over 10 years now, contains mindless violence and promotes gang culture. The game characters age between 18 and the mid-twenties: a prime role model for young teenagers. The certificate that the game is sold at here in the UK is 18, however this doesn't seem to stop parents from buying games such as GTA for their younger children. Many academics have studies the effect that violent video games have on teenagers, and often prove that it "may be more harmful than violent television or film because of its interactive nature". American Physiological Association: Violent Video Games
Other media content that MAG would find problematic, would be films or even music videos, as they often glamorise gun crime; making it appear more attractive for teenagers. At the end of last year Watchdog complained about the nature of certain film posters, especially those for the film "Shoot 'Em Up" (released September 2007). These posters showed actors Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti seemingly pointing guns at the viewer. the "glamorous" side to gun crime can be seen to encourage young adults to take to violence in order to gain street credibility.
BBC News Online: Watchdog Criticises Gun Movie Ads