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The CHAIRMAN. I am sorry. Your time has expired.
Mrs. Gore, let me begin by asking you, you have children, I understand.
Mrs. GORE. Yes, I do, four children, 12, 8, 6, and 2.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the 12-year-old buy records?
Mrs. GORE. Yes, she does, and she has been buying them since
she was 7 or 8. Not a lot, but occasionally.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you have any way of knowing what is on the
records that she buys?
Mrs. GORE. No, I do not have any way of knowing that.
The CHAIRMAN. There is nothing on the face of the album which
would notify you if the record has pornographic material or material
glorifying violence?
Mrs. GORE. No, there is nothing that would suggest that to me at
this time.
The CHAIRMAN. And it would be unrealistic, wouldn't it, for a
parent to go into the record store and play the record in its entirety
to find out what the words are?
Mrs. GORE. Well, it is. Normally you are not allowed to open a
record and play it until after you have purchased it.
The CHAIRMAN. Now, Mr. Ling, you pointed out at the beginning
of your presentation that you do know of a couple of cases where
kids have committed suicide while listening to rock music that
advocates suicide.
Do you believe that those are rare cases of rock music influencing
behavior, or do you think that it is more commonplace? In
other words, do you think that this music is tasteless, but that it
really does not have very much effect, or do you think that the
music has some negative consequences?
Mr. LING. I think it has great effect. As one who has worked
with teenagers and college students on a professional level for the
last 10 years, I have watched the things that they have watched,
and listened to what they have listened to. I have seen their behavior
influenced and encouraged by this music.
More importantly, sir, the problem is that the music might
reflect the behavior, attitudes, values of those in the 18 or older
bracket. However, when that music is listened to by 12-year-olds,
11-year-olds, and 10-year-olds, it moves from the area of being a
reinforcer and an encourager into the role of educator, and many
of these young children are being educated in these things before
they have any kind of frame of reference to properly put it in.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Gore.
Senator GORE. Well, Mr. Chairman, a statement was submitted
for the record from Dr. Thomas Ridecki which bears upon the question
about whether or not behavior is influenced by music. If it is
appropriate, I would like that to be included in the record.
The CHAIRMAN. Without objection.
Senator GORE. I would just like to reinforce a couple of
statements that were made in prepared testimony. I believe, Ms. Baker,
you began by saying that what you're proposing and what the
group is proposing does not involve any request for Government
action, is that correct?
Mrs. BAKER. That's right.
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