Samuel L. Jackson: Guns, Movies, Video Games Have Nothing to Do with Sandy Hook

Samuel L. Jackson, one of the stars of the new Quentin Tarantino-directed, Harvey Weinstein-produced Django Unchained, is speaking out against those who would restrict access to firearms or scale back violence in films in reaction to the massacre in Sandy Hook. Said Jackson:

“I don’t think it’s about more gun control. I grew up in the South with guns everywhere and we never shot anyone. This [shooting] is about people who aren’t taught the value of life … I don’t think movies or video games have anything to do with it.”

Jackson added, “We need to stop deranged people from getting access to guns.”

Weinstein apparently disagrees; he delayed the premiere of Django Unchained out of respect for the victims of Sandy Hook. So too does Django Unchained star Jamie Foxx, who said that movie violence can contribute to real-life violence. But Jackson has been joined in his vocal advocacy on behalf of freedom to portray movie violence by director Quentin Tarantino, who said “give me a break” when asked about the impact of movie violence on incidents like Sandy Hook.

Jackson has long been an advocate of gun ownership. He said in April 2012, in the aftermath of the shooting of Trayvon Martin, “I don’t mind people having guns. I grew up with guns in Tennessee … I’m not going to be the one without the gun when the people who have guns show up.” When asked if he is a gun owner, Jackson responded, “Hell yeah.”