Rep. Brady says Obama gave 'free pass' to Hollywood on gun violence

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) on Thursday accused President Obama of giving Hollywood a "free pass" this week by failing to recommend any steps to curb gun violence in movies or television shows.

After an emotional press conference with children who wrote to him about the need to reduce gun violence, Obama signed 23 executive actions this week. But these actions focused on things like beefing up data sharing on gun sales and the mental health aspects of gun violence — not gun violence in the media, as some had anticipated.

"He gave his coziest Hollywood contributors a free pass," Brady told KTRH radio in Houston. "And if there's one industry I think that makes the most money off of glorifying violence, it's that industry."

Brady said that in his experience, it is easier for him and his wife to patrol violence in video games, but that violence on television is much more difficult to monitor.

"TV, movies, I mean, the violence is everywhere, and we can't get to the remote fast enough in some of these cases," he said.

Brady also charged that Obama's decision to exempt Hollywood from the issue shows that the president is continuing to treat his supporters differently than those who oppose him.

"He goes after and treats Republican states much differently than he treats the Democratic states," he said. "I think that's one of the frustrations of many of us ... he is rarely a president that applies laws equally or actions equally across this country."

Obama has asked Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban, prevent the sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and require criminal background checks for all gun sales. But Brady said said these proposals would mostly affect legal, law-abiding gun owners.

"There is a culture of violence in America. It's not coming from our sportsmen, our hunters, our gun collectors, those who have guns for personal safety. That's not where the problem is."

Brady also predicted that Obama's proposals would fail in the House, thanks in part to help from Democrats.

"I'm confident that we will stop these gun control proposals in Congress," he said. "I think we will get Democratic support for it."

---