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Parents' Guide to

The Price of Freedom

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Excellent, mature docu unpacks American gun culture.

Movie NR 2021 94 minutes
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What's the Story?

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM explores how the National Rifle Association grew from an organization of hunters and sports shooters to a polarizing force in American politics. Interviews with journalists, activists for gun control and Second Amendment rights, politicians, NRA representatives, and those who've suffered tragedies from gun violence shed light on the organization's hidden past -- and strategic shift to gain influence.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

Anyone who's baffled about why the U.S. Congress won't pass gun legislation when 88 percent of Americans support it should watch director Judd Ehrlich's superb documentary. He pinpoints when and why the NRA became a political machine rather than an organization to support sports and hunting enthusiasts -- and how most of the organization's members were never in support of the direction it's taken. While calm and balanced, the movie is also eye-opening and has an application reaching far beyond the gun debate. The lessons here extend to strategy and manipulation; they're hard to forget and could potentially be helpful in other situations teens might encounter in life.

Documentaries are rarely balanced journalism. But here Ehrlich gives all sides of the gun-control debate a chance to speak and delivers well-researched facts, statistics, and a rattling reveal embedded toward the beginning of the film. When you're presented with statistics like the fact that the USA has seen an 183 percent increase in mass shootings since the assault weapons ban lapsed in 2004, it's hard to come to any other conclusion than that some kind of gun safety legislation is needed. The NRA's counterargument is that these deaths are collateral damage -- or, as the movie's title says, "the price of freedom." With its even treatment of an emotional topic, the documentary lays out very clearly that guns don't kill people: A lack of policy kills people.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how individuals and non-legislative groups (like sporting goods retailers) can create change. How do those working for change demonstrate teamwork, perseverance, courage, and communication skills? Why are these important parts of accomplishing a goal?

  • Do you feel like The Price of Freedom is objective? Why, or why not? What does it want you, the viewer, to do?

  • How, according to the film, has the NRA worked to create a correlation between absolute gun rights and freedom, patriotism, and identity? Should policies be evidence-based or concern-based? Is there a situation where preventative measures should be taken, even if nothing "bad" has happened yet?

  • Do you agree with the movie's assertion that the NRA is responsible for the division within the United States, the election of President Trump, and the January 6 Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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