Poll: Hollywood Has Lower Approval Than NRA

The gun debate is one in which the National Rifle Assn. and other gun rights advocates have actively blamed entertainment for producing a culture of violence, and there may be reason for the org to make Hollywood a punching bag.

According to a new poll frm NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, a plurality of the public has a negative impression of the entertainment industry, while they give higher marks to the NRA.

In the survey, 23% had a "somewhat negative" and another 23% had a "very negative" impression of the entertainment business. Just 23% had a "very positive" or "somewhat positive" impression. The survey showed that 28% were neutral on the question, and 3% were not sure.

By contrast, 24% had a "very positive" impression of the NRA and 17% had a "somewhat positive" view, greater than the 34% who said that they had a "somewhat negative" or "very negative" view of the org. The survey showed that 20% were neutral, while 5% had no response.

Pro-gun control orgs, including Mayors Against Illegal Guns, have featured such celebrities as Beyonce Knowles, Jessica Alba, Jon Hamm and Chris Rock in public service campaigns, and some gun rights advocates have claimed hypocrisy. A YouTube video that intersperses shots from celebrities calling for gun control with others in which they engage in gunplay in violent TV shows and movies.

But some gun control advocates say that while violent content should be part of the national conversation, the entertainment industry should not be scapegoated at the expense of taking action on serious firearms legislation.

In fact, the same NBC News/WSJ poll showed that 56% believe that laws governing the sale of firearms should be more strict, with 35% saying they should be kept as now and 7% saying they should be more strict.