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Gun Code Book

Gun Code Book

Definition of Gun

A gun is defined as a weapon that fires a bullet or energy beam with the intention of coercing or harming others that can be carried by a character in one or two hands. (Tasers, artillery, cannons, rocket propelled grenades, slingshots, crossbows and bow and arrows are not guns.) Non-human, animated, and fantasy characters are coded for gun portrayal.

Gun Portrayal

One or more guns were portrayed in the 5 minute segment. (Note: bullets on their own do not count, nor does a gun belt if the holster does not have a gun clearly shown. A police officer shown with a holstered gun would count, if the gun is visible.)

Gun Portrayal Location

A gun was portrayed in the same scenic location as the violence in the 5 minute segment.

A scenic location is defined as a discrete location containing continuous narrative content. Scenic location includes a car, a single room of a building, or a continuous outside shot, such as two characters having a conversation while walking down the street. Continuous narrative content means that editing is not used to artificially break up the behaviors being shown.

Gun Fired

During gun portrayal, a gun’s trigger was pulled and/or the gun was fired in the same scenic location as any violence.

Gun Hit

A projectile fired from a gun struck a living target.

Male Shooter

Character(s) committing the gun violence were male.

Female Shooter

Character(s) committing the gun violence were female.

Human Shooter

Character(s) committing the gun violence were human.

Human is defined as a character that appears human and does not possess any supernatural abilities (i.e., fantastical mutations, e.g. X-Men, Spiderman do not count as human) or alien origins (e.g., Thor, Superman).

Personified Non-Human Shooter

Character(s) committing the gun violence were personified non-humans.

A personified nonhuman is defined as a character possessing at least 2 of the following characteristics:

(a) Is an animate being (note: all animated characters are considered nonhuman, personified or not);

(b) Is humanoid in appearance, but possesses a supernatural quality or origin (e.g., Terminator, Thor, C3PO, etc.);

(c) Is a non-humanoid character that can communicate and be understood by others by using human language or speaks a language understandable to the audience through use of subtitles (e.g., Disney/Pixar talking animals or creature).

Non-Human Shooter

Character(s) committing the gun violence were non-human.

A nonhuman character is one possessing fewer than 2 of the above stated human characteristics, such as an animal (Jaws, Cujo, etc.).

Male Character Shot

A male character received gun violence.

Female Character Shot

A female character received gun violence.

Personified Non-Human Character Shot

A personified non-human character received gun violence.

Non-Human Character Shot

A non-human character received gun violence.