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By Robert Bickmeyer

Violence has always been with us and will never be eliminated, but why does it permeate America's 21st century society in ways it never has before? Let us focus on school and teenage violence. Since 1992, there has been 270 violent deaths in schools, with 207 due to guns.

How has our society changed? Who is at fault? Is it Hollywood and the entire entertainment industry, the National Rifle Association, Democrats, Republicans, working mothers, deadbeat dads, schools or themedia?

Will our elected leaders in Washington stop using the tragic spree of school violence for political chicanery? Democrats, who accept millions of dollarsin campaign contributions from Hollywood, blame guns. Republicans, who accept millions of dollars from the National rifle association, blame Hollywood.

It is time our power-hungry, selfish politicians do what is best for our country instead of their political parties. Congress must point the finger atHollywood as one of the causes and demand that violence be curbed. About 80 years ago, Hollywood studio heads established the Hays Office and imposed a formal censorship code. Hollywood regulated itself to stave off censorship legislation by Congress. The Hays Office, operating for 40 years, did our country no harm, but dissolving it has done the U.S. irreparable harm as Hollywood has since then lowered itself into the gutter with unmitigated violence as well as out-of-control immorality.

It is time to reincarnate censorship of violence and immoral behavior in the entire entertainment industry, and that includes movies, television, videos and music.

Many words offensive to minorities are deemed politically incorrect and are banned. These censorships are made with good judgment and are not considered violations of the First Amendment. Why then can't we use equally good judgment in our entertainment industry toban violence, pornography and obscenities that are offensive to God-fearing people? A giant step would be taken toward minimizing school violence and a multitude of other problems in our country.

Similarly, Congress must en masse point the finger at the NRA for enabling such violence with easy access to guns.Strong gun control laws to curb easy access will eliminate such violence. Can you imagine any violence-prone teenager attacking his fellow students and teachers with a baseball bat or a knife, without the false courage provided with a gun in hand.

Another contributing cause are those working moms who don't have to work, but do for selfish reasons, such as having their own career or a bigger house and assorted household goodies. I applaud and sympathize with those moms who must work because of despicable deadbeat dads or whose husbands are unfortunately unable to fully provide for the family.

As usual, the media hype tends to stimulate copycat crimes, especially when notoriety is given to the killers. If the media used good sense, they would use restraint and allow the killers to be nameless. Showing their picture with their names in boldface on every television screen and the front page of every newspaper is the reward these nonentities seek.

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Censorship, gun control needed to curb violence