by Rhys Southan

About the author: Rhys Southan is associate entertainment editor for the Daily Texan, the student newspaper of the University of Texas.

On the defensive from rabid legislators who want to capitalize on the Littleton shooting, the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) announced [in June 1999] that it will rigorously enforce the R-ratings handed down by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Rather than decreasing violence, this discriminatory move, masked by false intentions of child protection, will only strengthen an outdated and inflexible ratings system that should be abolished.

In its current form, the rating board vaguely warns parents about “objectionable” content. Movies rated PG-13 or below are open to all, but an R-rating demands parental accompaniment, and NC-17 movies are off limits to all...