Jacob Sullum

Although many studies have examined the link between media violence and aggressive behavior, the claim that violent entertainment causes real—life violence is a controversial one. Jacob Sullum, a senior editor at Reason magazine, rebukes the notion that there is a causal connection between fictional and real—life violence. Much of the research on the issue is flawed, he writes, and many studies only prove a correlation between media violence and aggression. It may be that aggressive people are simply more drawn to violent entertainment, he notes. Sullum concludes that politicians and the media have mischaracterized and exaggerated the evidence against screen violence.

"THE VERDICT ON VIOLENT ENTERTAINMENT IS now in," Senator Sam Brownback recently declared. "Violent entertainment is a public health hazard."

To back up that claim, the Kansas Republican touted a joint statement...