Games and Gamers Criticized
Following more fallout of the Sandy Hook shooting, California Senator Leland Yee who has been vocal in critiquing the gaming industry and community has once again decided to have a go at it again.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Yee said “Gamers have got to just quiet down. Gamers have no credibility in this argument. This is all about their lust for violence and the industry’s lust for money. This is a billion-dollar industry. This is about their self-interest.” So rather than having a sensible discussion, Leland Yee is asking the gaming community to quiet down and for him to bash us further and to blame video games further.
While this could be a sign of more things to come, Connecticut senator Chris Murphy has called out the gaming industry as well. Speaking at the Dianne Feinstein’s press conference which introduces a bill that would ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, Murphy said that if the bill was passed, many of the victims of the shooting that took place on December 14th would still be alive. Murphy also goes on to blame video games in influencing the shooter.
[quote]I think there’s a question as to whether he would have driven in his mother’s car in the first place if he didn’t have access to a weapon that he saw in video games that gave him a false sense of courage about what he could do that day.[/quote]
It is important to note that to date, NO study has found any link between video games and violent tendencies in players, but yet, politicians and the media are quick to criticize the industry and its community. President Barack Obama has ordered the CDC to begin yet another study in an effort to find any links violence media and causes of gun violence in what seems to be a waste of taxpayers’ money. Money which could be spent on better healthcare for the mentally unstable to prevent further tragedies from taking place.
What this is, are politicians picking on the new kid on the block. It used to be radio/music, then TV, then movies. Now they are scapegoating video games because the industry has no clout. Trying to further their own agenda with no facts backing their claims. Once the connection to video games was made, it was the only thing that these politicians needed to come out and trash the industry and the community.
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Taylor Parolini
January 26, 2013 @ 12:39 pm
Human beings need a reason, justification or scapegoat in order to process tragedies and atrocities.
Why did Sandyhook happen? Because of videogames and lack of gun control.
Why did this natural disaster kill so many people? Because God.
Anything that human beings can come up with to blame will help to distance themselves from the reality of the situation and allow them to go about their daily lives in relative peace.
Michael Foy
January 27, 2013 @ 3:07 pm
People always want to find things to blame. God i hate 85 percent of the human race.
hratos897
February 12, 2013 @ 8:50 am
i agree video games are not responsible they are just idiots who believe that