In the ongoing circus side-show act that is American politics, video games are once again being blamed for the general moral decay and psychological rot of society.<\/p>\n
I can almost hear your exasperated groans – however it is important to bear in mind that our US brethren shape to a large degree our beloved video gaming pastime, so we might as well pay attention when political issues arise that bring video games into the American national debate.<\/p>\n
Following on from the horrific crime that was the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, America’s gun laws have once again come under public scrutiny.<\/p>\n
On the side of guns is Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the American National Rifle Association (NRA). On 21 December he spoke during a press conference: “There exists in this country a callous, corrupt, and corrupting shadow industry that sells, and sows, violence against its own people. Through vicious, violent video games with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, and Splatterhouse.”<\/p>\n
LaPierre tied this in with the media in general, heaping equal blame on the music and film industries: “Then there’s the blood-soaked slasher films like American Psycho<\/em> and Natural Born Killers<\/em> that are aired like propaganda loops on Splatterdays and every day, and a thousand music videos that portray life as a joke and murder as a way of life. And then they have the nerve to call it entertainment. But is that what it really is? Isn’t fantasizing about killing people as a way to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography?”<\/p>\n I love a good conspiracy theory, and LaPierre obliged by saying that the media, their corporate owners, and stockholders, are “silent enablers” and “co-conspirators,” with an agenda to “demonize” lawful gun owners and “fill the national debate with misinformation and dishonest thinking.”<\/p>\n Now despite the ill-timing of his sudden assault on all forms of mass-market entertainment, could he have some valid points? Speaking from a global hub of mass-market entertainment, California senator weighed in with his own opinion.<\/p>\n \u201cI find it mind-boggling that the NRA suddenly cares about the harmful effects of ultra-violent video games. When our law was before the Supreme Court – while several states, medical organizations, and child advocates submitted briefs in support of California\u2019s efforts – the NRA was completely silent,” said Yee in a statement posted to his website<\/a> on 21 December 2012.<\/p>\n Yee accused the NRA of dodging the issue and attempting to “pass the buck.”<\/p>\n “More guns are not the answer to protecting our children… The NRA\u2019s response is pathetic and completely unacceptable,” said Yee.<\/p>\n US school shooting revives debate on videogame violence<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In defence of porn games<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Star Wars 1313 is \u201cfor adults, not for psychopaths\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Games blamed for increased teen knife violence<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Teen stabs neighbour over online game<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n World of Warcraft argument leads to stabbing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Video games \u201care fetishising violence\u201d, says Warren Spector<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 4 year-old kills father after not getting a PlayStation<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Man stabbed to death over Counter-Strike dispute<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Norwegian mass-murderer used video games to plan his attack<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nSource: Gamespot – 1<\/a>, 2<\/a><\/h5>\n
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