Hollywood’s evolving take on gun rights

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JohnPierce

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In 1999, back when the Brady Campaign was upfront about their goals and called themselves Handgun Control, Inc., they ran a full page ad in USA Today entitled “Open Letter to the National Rifle Association.”

The letter called for a nationwide “one handgun a month” rule, waiting periods for handgun purchases, an end to private sales, and a complete and permanent ban on so-called “assault weapons” as well as normal capacity magazines.

Signing this “open letter” were dozens of Hollywood stars and media personalities.

But a new era appears to be dawning in Hollywood, with many stars voicing their support for gun rights.

Read more at http://monachuslex.com/?p=1912
 
I don't think Hollywood has really evolved at all.

There have always been some stars against gun control, and there are still plenty of them for it. I'd say the ones for gun control are more vocal and probably more prevalent.
 
A guy can dream can't he? :)

But seriously, I would like to think that more rising stars are from an era where shall-issue concealed carry was the norm. That has to make a difference culturally.
 
JohnPierce said:
In 1999, back when the Brady Campaign was upfront about their goals and called themselves Handgun Control, Inc., they ran a full page ad in USA Today entitled “Open Letter to the National Rifle Association.”

The letter called for a nationwide “one handgun a month” rule, waiting periods for handgun purchases, an end to private sales, and a complete and permanent ban on so-called “assault weapons” as well as normal capacity magazines.

Signing this “open letter” were dozens of Hollywood stars and media personalities.

But a new era appears to be dawning in Hollywood, with many stars voicing their support for gun rights.

Read more at http://monachuslex.com/?p=1912
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Thanks for that link (a lot of this I already knew but vice versa as well). In particular, I wrongly "assumed" Stallone was a 2A supporter :confused: (in fact, I have read that he is a Republican, not that Party affiliation in and of itself categorically translates into a NRA guy but in general it's a rare contradiction)?

-Cheers
 
I guess I just need to go watch more Pitt, Jolie, and Willis movies. Like I needed an excuse. Still an informative read, I did not know any of those three were pro 2A.
 
For the record, Brad Pitt came from a conservative, middle American area of the country, with a working class family. No surprise that me might be pro-gun. Angelina seems to have fun with guns, too.:D
 
PT92 said:
Thanks for that link (a lot of this I already knew but vice versa as well). In particular, I wrongly "assumed" Stallone was a 2A supporter :confused: (in fact, I have read that he is a Republican, not that Party affiliation in and of itself categorically translates into a NRA guy but in general it's a rare contradiction)?

-Cheers
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Similarly after reading in that article that Stallone was anti-2A, I assumed he was therefore a Democrat, whooops
 
In particular, I wrongly "assumed" Stallone was a 2A supporter
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I had assumed this as well, after watching the commentary for The Expendables. The only time he even mentioned guns was when he said "we did our research, and these facts listed are accurate" or "we did our research, people really fire pistols and reload this fast." Compared with other commentaries I've watched (which pretty much explain why the main character forgot to take the safety off is because a "non-secret-agent-trained person doesn't have a right to know how to use an assault rifle"), he seemed alright. It was random finding out that he is anti-gun.

Personally, I don't pay attention to actor's politics. If I see them on a late night talk show, I might listen and find out who I'd like to hang with (not that I'd ever get the chance) and who I should keep a TV screen between me and them, but I judge the production on the production itself.
 
SharpsDressedMan said:
For the record, Brad Pitt came from a conservative, middle American area of the country, with a working class family. No surprise that me might be pro-gun. Angelina seems to have fun with guns, too.:D
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True--but he is at odds big-time with his Mom as she supports Mitt Romney and he supports BHO (most of the disagreement emanates from different views on "traditional" marriage). Make no mistake, Pitt is just like his best buddy George Clooney as far as being liberal. IMO to proclaim yourself to be pro-gun, pro-2A guy and simultaneously campaign and contribute to the Obama campaign is a virtual oxymoron or contradiction in terms :confused:.

Not so sure about Angelina in terms of her politics (I'm sure Pitt could care less ;))?

Edited to add: Thanks for the Jon Voight reminder (true that he and daughter are a complete political dichotomy of one another). I would love to be a 'fly-on-the-wall' during a Pitt-Jolie Family Thanksgiving Dinner--heck I would pay for admission to see those drumsticks fly :D).

-Cheers
 
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I am already new about all of these. Jolie makes the most sense considering how conservative her father is and that he has called out BO on several instances.
 
Skribs said:
I had assumed this as well, after watching the commentary for The Expendables...
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Good to know that I am not the only one who was WRONG about old (literally) Stallone ;). Looks like there's a reason they call old Rocky "Sly" in Hollywood. As previously mentioned in the thread, it's the absolute height of hypocrisy that these millionares make movie after movie after movie essentially centered around weaponry while off camera publicly espousing Brady-like Gun Control :barf:.

Personally, I don't pay attention to actor's politics. If I see them on a late night talk show...
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I tend to agree with you here in that if I were to cease consuming any form of entertainment (movies, music, books, dating etc.) based on politics alone (litmus test if you will) it would exponentially reduce my entertainment choices :uhoh:. I am not saying that my position is correct (in fact one could make a very good argument that I should boycott anti-related material), I'm just sayin' it's big-time 'food-for-thought.' And the late night talk-show hosts are PR spokesmen for BO and do not even pretend to be otherwise (Letterman seems to be the leader of the pack).
 
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Originally Posted By PT92
IMO to proclaim yourself to be pro-gun, pro-2A guy and simultaneously campaign and contribute to the Obama campaign is a virtual oxymoron or contradiction in terms .
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Not really. I know plenty of gun-owning Democrats and Republicans that want to restrict firearms usage. Everyone doesn't fall into neat black-or-white categories.
 
Cesiumsponge said:
Not really. I know plenty of gun-owning Democrats and Republicans that want to restrict firearms usage. Everyone doesn't fall into neat black-or-white categories.
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I get that but it doesn't change my opinion that it's a contradiction ('I'm on weight watchers but I'll be having a cheeseburger for breakfast' if you will).

Just my opinion though.

-Cheers
 
I hate gossip and try not to partake in what stars are doing what (though I still get it shoved down my throat by media), for a long time I couldn't even name actors I liked in movies, I just knew them by face.

However I seem to recall that Brad Pitt and Jolie got to keep their .45s from that movie they made together ( didn't see it, I think it is Mr and Mrs Smith.) I believe that may be what started Jolie on guns and perhaps got Brad back into them.



A decent percentage of Hollywood is also prohibited persons, which tend to be more vocally anti-gun.
Though many still employ bodyguards with guns.

Drugs were quite common in Hollywood at various times, and many big actors could afford whatever they wanted. If they however get caught with them they often become felons.
(Jolie for example was with Billy Bob Thornton, want to take a guess if they were doing heroine together? Yet if she was she didn't get caught, and now is pro-gun and legal.)

Though today it seems to have taken a more legal direction with private doctors and hard prescription drugs instead of illicit cocaine and heroine.
So perhaps they stay non-prohibited longer now than they used to.




Hollywood is fake, and what an actor does on screen has no correlation with who they are off screen. They are cast based on looks and performance. Arnold for example was a big buff bodybuilder that got cast in a lot of action roles because of it. It had nothing to do with his views or whether he was anything like his roles.
Once they get popular they have people that tell them how to maintain a certain image to stay as popular with the demographic they cater to as possible, and as a result get more well paying work playing certain roles those people want to see them in.
Though there is still harder things to explain, like Kevin Costner, who has directed and /or produced some movies centered around toting guns.
You would think someone that much behind shaping the movie and even backing it would have feelings closer to what they chose to present in works they created.
 
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I've worked in Hollywood since 1995 off and on and i see a noticable difference in attitude. I think much of it is that conservatives have gotten into positions of power and if you want to work you have to jump in. Eastwood, Pitt, and Grammer have a lot of clout, and jobs. :)
 
threefeathers said:
I've worked in Hollywood since 1995 off and on and i see a noticable difference in attitude. I think much of it is that conservatives have gotten into positions of power and if you want to work you have to jump in. Eastwood, Pitt, and Grammer have a lot of clout, and jobs. :)
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That's great to hear as you guys need all the help you can get in CA. I'm in the Mid-West and when I think about the Second Amendment specifically relative to the State of CA. I can't help but see the horrific image of the blatant Hypocrite Dianne Feinstein of whom has her own personal CCW license but is also one of the biggest Antis to be found in the entire Country from CA. to NY. I actually become slightly nauseous when I look at her/it :barf:.
 
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