The National Rifle Association placed a portion of the blame for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on violent video games during a press briefing this morning.
"There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and sows violence against its own people," NRA head Wayne LaPierre said during the press conference. "Through vicious violent video games, with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat and Splatterhouse. And here's one: It's called Kindergarten Killers. It's been online for 10 years. How come my research staff can find it, and all yours couldn't, or didn't want anyone to know you've found it?"
LaPierre went on to blame other facets of the entertainment industry as well.
"We have bloodsoaked films out there like American Psycho, Natural Born Killers, they're aired on propaganda loops called Splatterdays, and every single day. A thousand music videos portray life as a joke, portray murder as a way of life, and then have the nerve to call it entertainment.
"Isn't fantasizing about killing people to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography?" LaPierre added.
Entertainment companies like the ones responsible for the titles listed above have invited "reckless behavior, criminal cruelty into our homes," LaPierre argued, mentioning that stockholders for those companies are complicit in that act.
LaPierre also argued that gun-free zones only serve to inform killers where they can "inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk," questioning why we protect our banks and other civil buildings with armed guards, but not our schools. He also placed a share of the blame on the news media for providing mass killers with "wall-to-wall attention and a sense of identity."
West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller pleaded with Congress earlier this week to fund a study on the effects of "violent video games and other content" on children. Specifically, the study would commission the National Academy of Sciences to discover whether violent games "cause kids to act aggressively or otherwise hurt their wellbeing."
Representatives for the Entertainment Software Association declined to comment on the NRA's press conference.
Comments
Mortal Kombat causes Gun Violence -
- NRA
By Parm on 12.21.12 11:20am
To be fair, he also mentioned Bulletstorm and Grand Theft Auto, and seemed to be referencing violence overall, not just shooting. In no way do I agree with anything he said, but to make this argument against them only weakens our side’s claims.
By schmete on 12.21.12 12:09pm
But, my goodness, did he really reference a super old, homemade flash game, likely made by one guy in his bedroom? As if that holds any kind of weight in influencing the lives of anyone.
“How come my research staff can find it, and all yours couldn’t…”
Possibly because it’s a wicked old flash game that nobody, even kids, cares about. It’s not a part of the video games industry. That’s like using an angry forum post on a fan website for a video game.
By schmete on 12.21.12 12:13pm
So says the NR fucking-A.
What do they do on a daily basis that doesn’t involve the public image of the use of firearms. I feel like that’s much more influential than video games.
By HumanEvan on 12.21.12 1:11pm
By depicting people enjoying recreational shooting in a safe and responsible manner? I can’t recall the last time I’ve even seen an NRA ad and it was probably in a waiting room magazine like Field &Stream. He included video games with all other media and blamed the culture of violence. The headline chosen for this article is a bit sensational.
By CurtD032 on 12.23.12 8:49am
Sensational?! He said those words in that first quote. It was the mans own words, he’s the one who’s trying to be sensational and point the finger.
By SnakeOiler on 12.24.12 10:00am
Well, Joe Scarborough agreed on MSNBC, along with Liberal heartthrobs Mika Brzezinski and Andrea Mitchell.
Yes, those Liberal idols you allow to think on your behalf and speak in your name condemned video games and the violence they proliferate and profit from.
“They sit there for hours at length and they’re sold the idea to enjoy killing.”
~ Mika Brzezinski, MSNBC 12/24/12
“[Children] have been shattered by the harvest sown from VIOLENT, MIND-NUMBING VIDEO GAMES.”
[5:20 // http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc-morning_joe/#50222624]
Oops! It looks like “hip” and “cool” Democrats aren’t going to give video games a free pass, either. Why? Because IF violent material, in any form, was not suitable for children, then why do gamers accept the current ratings system and acknowledge its necessity?
The fact that gamers dismiss the observation that violent material inspires violence in children, while defending their position with a ratings system designed to keep violent material away from children, is both antithetical and self-defeating.
You CAN’T argue that video games DON’T inspire violence, and then exonerate yourself with the excuse that "well, it’s rated “M” for mature. That kid shouldn’t have been playing the game."
Really? Why not, IF it isn’t going to hurt them?
“I know they’ll say ‘oh, is he really going to blame video games?’ YES, I AM!”
~ Joe Scarborough, MSNBC 12/24/12
By Mr. David Rosen on 12.24.12 11:25pm
Yeah, remember how influential that Splatterhouse game has been on gaming culture?!
By patod on 12.21.12 11:21am
Oh, I have an answer to ‘Kindergarden Killers’. How about “It isn’t mainstream, so basically no one has heard of it”?
By steve19137 on 12.21.12 11:21am
And then there’s this thing about pornography: they are called sex tapes, not killing tapes. Oh my gosh, the ignorance is strong in this one…
By steve19137 on 12.21.12 11:23am
He should’ve blamed “Custer’s Revenge” on all the porn!
By Maltbrew on 12.21.12 11:54am
Eh, but violent acts have been likened to a form of "pornography" before by others, so I do understand that remark.
Though I do agree with your assessment about that game.
By DavidIsDead on 12.23.12 1:18am
Well, its going to get some hype now…
I’m surprised he didn’t come at us with Night Trap as well.
By Nipah on 12.21.12 11:25am
The makers of Kindergarten Killers would like to thank the NRA for bringing notoriety to their terrible and obscure video game.
By Vowels In Space And Time on 12.21.12 11:36am
Video games are the only environment where violence and complete deregulation of lethal weapons should take place.
By Spearin on 12.21.12 11:23am
It’s certainly the only safe place. Parents and environments should be blamed for the violence, not games or even the media. Education is key. Violence is mostly committed by the poor and/or despondent, as well as the mentally ill, groups that can only truly be combated with education and welfare programs; therapy and communities; and, lastly, institutionalization (treatment, safe living, etc.) and gun control — respectively.
By Jouk on 12.21.12 12:50pm
Thank you, I have consistently said “we’ll what was his home life like?” The mother was a “survivalist” who stocked up on assault rifles and taught him how to use them. Not exactly a good one for the mentally ill.
By SnakeOiler on 12.24.12 10:09am
The shooter’s mother was NOT a “survivalist,” as extensive interviews with her friends, family and neighbors have confirmed. No “survivalist” material (books, gear, etc.) were found in her home or linked to her.
STOP spreading ignorance and misinformation yourself! Already you’ve built a prejudicial stereotype around this woman to fit your view of gun owners in general.
Now, what does your “communal,” emasculating Liberal indoctrination say about stereotypes?
By Mr. David Rosen on 12.24.12 11:22pm
Glad to see quotation marks around nothing quote. Showing your brilliance Sir.
By SnakeOiler on 12.25.12 2:08pm
I was more agitated about the mother clearly not being a suitable parent for her child, but I like how you just pulled that stereo type out of no where. Misinformed = liberal? I apologize for the misinformation, but I still stand by the fact that something in the home life was clearly not working for this mentally disturbed man and the mother should have addressed it before it escalated to this travesty.
By SnakeOiler on 12.25.12 2:18pm
Someone show this video to them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uwAo8lcAC4
By GhostSixx on 12.21.12 11:24am
I would love to see a debate between TB and LaPierre!
By Maltbrew on 12.21.12 11:55am
It is much more dangerous to allow a teenager to play violent video games than to allow unrestricted access to high powered firearms to a young man who was about to be committed to a psych ward. Media isn’t to blame, the idiot mother and the deranged killer are.
By Anon09 on 12.21.12 11:26am
I wonder if the NRA realizes the studies they wish to conduct will only turn up evidence that lack of gun control is to blame as well as the points you’ve mentioned. However, include the father with the mother; you needn’t sound like Hamlet.
By Jouk on 12.21.12 12:52pm
The mother owned the guns he used and did not have them locked up. The father didn’t have anything to do with that as he does not live in the house. I don’t place any blame on her but she should have known to lock them up when not being used, especially if she knew her son at all.
By CurtD032 on 12.21.12 4:11pm