Dodd: Film studios ready to 'do our part' after shooting

Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), now the chief of the Motion Picture Association of America, on Thursday said the film and television industry wants to "do our part to help America heal" from last week's shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Dodd's statement comes as lawmakers have called for Congress to take a closer look into whether violent video games, movies and TV shows are contributing to aggressive behavior. Since last week's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which killed 20 young children, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Jay Rockefeller have suggested there is a link between entertainment and violence.

"As chairman of the MPAA and on behalf of the motion picture and television studios we represent, we join all Americans in expressing our sympathy as well as our horror and outrage at this senseless act of violence," Dodd said in the statement. 

"Thus, I have reached out to the administration to express our support for the President’s efforts in the wake of the Newtown tragedy," he said. "Those of us in the motion picture and television industry want to do our part to help America heal. We stand ready to be part of the national conversation.”

Dodd represented Connecticut for more than 30 years before taking the helm at the MPAA. In the statement, Dodd extended his condolences to the community in Newtown.

“As a citizen of Connecticut and having represented the people there for 36 years in Washington, I have been shocked and profoundly saddened by this tragedy," Dodd said. "My heart goes out to the community as I know they will carry this pain with them long after the spotlight on Newtown has dimmed."