Judd Apatow Shonda Rhimes Lead Gun Safety In Hollywood Petition

Judd Apatow, Mark Ruffalo, Jimmy Kimmel, Damon Lindelof, Adam McKay, Julianne Moore, Shonda Rhimes, Eli Roth, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Schumer, and John Glickman are among the first round of signatures for a petition calling for the film and TV industry to re-examine its influence on national gun violence in the U.S. The petition, titled “Open Letter to Our Colleagues in the Creative Community,” calls for studios to model responsible gun safety practices in productions and curb portrayals of guns in scenes involving children. The effort, led by activists Christy Callahan, the co-chair of the Brady United Against Gun Violence organization’s Regional Leadership Council, and Robert Bowers Disney, comes after the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting on May 24.

“Considering there have been over 250 other mass shootings so far this year, it’s an almost incomprehensible tragedy. Something needs to be done,” the petition starts. “Guns are prominently featured in TV and movies in every corner of the globe, but only America has a gun violence epidemic. The responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives. We didn’t cause the problem, but we want to help fix it.” Related ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ Sneak Peek: Adjoa Andoh’s Lady Danbury Origin Story Is Revealed Quentin Tarantino Confirms ‘Inglourious Basterds’ Role Was Written for Adam Sandler Related Oscars 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere,’ ‘Nope’ Among Early Favorites 23 Controversial Film and TV Book Adaptations That Rankled Their Audiences and Authors
The petition continues: “As America’s storytellers, our goal is primarily to entertain, but we also acknowledge that stories have the power to effect change. Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts, and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety.” “We are not asking anyone to stop showing guns on screen. We are asking writers, directors and producers to be mindful of on-screen gun violence and model gun safety best practices. Let’s use our collective power for good.” The list of production suggestions includes characters correctly locking their guns safely, exploring alternatives to gun use onscreen, and looking ahead to ways to end a “national nightmare.” The petition concludes in part: “We are under no illusions that these actions are a substitute for common-sense gun legislation.” Writers, directors, and producers are encouraged to sign the petition. Read the full petition below. An Open Letter to Our Colleagues in the Creative Community Like most of America, we are enraged by the recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. Considering there have been over 250 other mass shootings so far this year, it’s an almost incomprehensible tragedy. Something needs to be done. Guns are prominently featured in TV and movies in every corner of the globe, but only America has a gun violence epidemic. The responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives. We didn’t cause the problem, but we want to help fix it.

As America’s storytellers, our goal is primarily to entertain, but we also acknowledge that stories have the power to effect change. Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety. We are not asking anyone to stop showing guns on screen. We are asking writers, directors and producers to be mindful of on-screen gun violence and model gun safety best practices. Let’s use our collective power for good. Whenever possible, we will: Use our creativity to model responsible gun ownership and show consequences for reckless gun use. We will make a conscious effort to show characters locking their guns safely and making them inaccessible to children. Have at least one conversation during pre-production regarding the way guns will be portrayed on screen and consider alternatives that could be employed without sacrificing narrative integrity. Limit scenes including children and guns, bearing in mind that guns are now the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. We are under no illusions that these actions are a substitute for common sense gun legislation. Furthermore, this list does not incorporate every nuance of guns on screen. However, these are small things that we can do as a community to try and end this national nightmare. If you are a writer, director or producer, join us by signing here. Here’s the full list of signatories: Ali Adler Debbie Allen Omari Allen Judd Apatow Josh Appelbaum Susan Arnold Carol Barbee Alfredo Barrios Zach Baylin David Beaubaire Betsy Beers Michael Begler Alex Berger Fred Berger Max Berger Chris Bishop Kristin Borella Matt Bosak Marty Bowen Adam Brody Kristin Burr Bill Callahan Christy Callahan Elizabeth Cantillon Ann Cherkis Matt Chesse Becky Clements Kat Coiro Peter Craig RJ Cutler Elizabeth Daley Gary Dauberman Ainsley Davies Bill D’Elia Marjorie David David Diliberto Naomi Despres Travis Donnelly Carleton Eastlake Grace Edwards Ben Ellenberg Doug Ellin Zack Estrin Lee Farber Morgan Faust Erik Feig Jon Feldman Jonathan Fernandez Jennifer Flackett Levin Beau Flynn Dana Fox Eric Michael Garcia Dede Gardner Todd Garner R. Scott Gemmill Jonathan Glickman Will Gluck Wyck Godfrey Gary Goldman Ellen Goldsmith Vein Al Gough Jonathan Green Rich Green Bruce Greenwood Javier Grillo-Marxuach Larry Gross David Guggenheim Alejandra Gularte Lisa Harrison Lysa Heslov Grant Heslov Mark Heyman Jordan Horowitz Lauren Iungerich Devery Jacobs Tom Jacobson Craig Johnson Jennifer Johnson Alexa Junge Bess Kalb Gail Katz Richie Keen Mike Kelley Christopher Keyser Jimmy Kimmel and the writers of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Simon Kinberg Michelle King David Kissinger Laura Kittrell Jon Koa Betsy Koch David Kohan Jenni Konner Elysa Koplovitz Dutton Stacy Kramer Tim Kring Natalie Krinsky Kent Kubena Roger Kumble Amanda Lasher Bill Lawrence Victor LaValle Mark Levin Chris Levinson Steve Levitan Dan Lin Damon Lindelof Chris Long Kyle Long Silka Luisa Melanie Marnich Randi Mayem Singer Glen Mazzara Adam McKay Katie Mcquerrey Jeff Melvoin Jason Mewes Miles Millar Andrew Miller Hannah Minghella Janet Mock Jordan Monsanto Chris Morgan Leslie Morgenstein Julianne Moore Sue Naegle Michael Narducci Eric Newman Olivia Newman Samantha Nissenboim Matt Nix Sohrab Noshirvani Pete Nowalk Marti Noxon David Nutter Peter Paige Jamie Patricof Edoardo Ponti Bill Prady Dawn Prestwich Daniel Pyne Jessica Queller Eric Ramsey Robia Rashid Luvh Rakhe Billy Ray Andrew Reich Jeannine Renshaw Shonda Rhimes Elizabeth Rosenbaum Scott Rosenbaum Karen Rosenfelt Gary Ross MIchael A. Ross Eli Roth Mike Royce Claire Rudnick Polstein Mark Ruffalo Claire Scanlon Lauren Schmidt Hissrich Amy Schumer Travis Sentell Byron Shah Frankie Shaw Scott Shepherd David Shore Dan Shotz Claudia Solti Jason Smilovic Dana Stevens Fisher Stevens Michelle Stockwell Lee Stollman Veena Sud Niels Swinkels Matt Tauber Michael Taylor Rhys Thomas Liz Tigelaar Chris Van Dusen Krista Vernoff Patric M. Verrone Jeff Vespa Joe Wallenstein Valerie Weiss Llewelyn Wells Marlon West Ben Wexler Maiya Williams Irwin Winkler Danielle Wolff Nicole Yorkin David Zabel Lisa Zambri David W. Zucker