Why Video Games Aren't The Cause Of Gun Violence

"If parents are allowing children to begin playing mature-rated games at young ages, then blame the parents, not the games."

       Warning: The Following Article Contains Opinions and Fluently Utilizes First Amendment Rights

   
        'Video games' and 'gun violence': two terms that have been prominently associated with one another over the past week. Since last week's traumatic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, it seems that many people are just trying to find something to blame for an event that I feel Adam Lanza, the perpetrator, is the only one who should be blamed for.
         Yesterday, the NRA (National Rifle Association) held a press conference, defending their existence as a gun-rights lobby in order to direct the blame to someone who arguably deserves it less, and yes, that someone was the "violent media", emphasizing "vicious, violent video games", but also including other entertainment media such as movies and music videos. They specifically targeted "vicious, violent video games with names like 'Bulletstorm', 'Grand Theft Auto', 'Mortal Kombat', and 'Splatterhouse'". While I must admit, I've never had any personal experience with Bulletstorm and Splatterhouse, I must admit that Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat are harmless, in my opinion. While Grand Theft Auto games have been subject to much controversy over the years, the game itself portrays the virtual life on the wild side with much negativity.

Do your children feel influenced by Bulletstorm to shoot and kill giant, ugly monsters?

        Many will argue that Rockstar games created the Grand Theft Auto franchise as a decision of pure evil, but I disagree. While stealing cars and killing police officers in-game may be fun, the game itself provides players with a feel of risk and uncertainty, along with a question of moral certainty and self-worth. But what people must remember, is that these example game titles provided by the NRA are just games-- nothing more than games, and they feel like games. Even Grand Theft Auto, which gives users an authentic experience of a crime-filled life, doesn't influence anyone sane to commit video game-esque crimes. Instead, it influences users to play more video games, if anything.

Playing Grand Theft Auto will keep you out of real trouble,
but can still be a negative influence on younger kids.

        Then there's Mortal Kombat. The only problem Mortal Kombat has created is enhancing the common misconception of the spelling of the word combat. Mortal Kombat plays like fiction, feels like fiction, and is fiction, and for no reason should the NRA have been subjected to blaming NeatherRealm Studios' Japanese-styled fighting game.

Teach your kids the moral konsequences of mispelling kombat.

     
        Blaming video games for real-life violence isn't anything new. Actually, in my experience, video games are brought up nearly every time a violent crime such as this takes place. Prior to this, I've just accepted this fact as a man, but am nearly exhausted by video games being perceived as such a negative thing. Video games are an art medium, like books, poetry, paintings, films, and music, only video games haven't existed long enough for people to understand and respect them as a medium. No one has blamed controversial books or artwork for the tragic events that took place on December 14th, 2012; why does everyone feel the need to bash my favorite artistic medium?

        Sure, if children are exposed to enough violent video games, they will probably be influenced negatively at some point. But there is reason ESRB posts their stamp of approval on nearly every console game, and it isn't just due to the controversy of the Sega CD's Night Trap. No, video games are just another excuse for people to be insane and commit idiotic crimes. The gaming world means no harm, but please, don't allow your 7-year-old to play Grand Theft Auto. The video game industry relies on parents to have common sense. If parents are allowing children to begin playing mature-rated games at young ages, then blame the parents, not the games. Personally, I think the NRA is just upset because their game received a 1.5 out of 10, while Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto IV received an 8 and 10 out of 10, respectively.

Obviously, older kids will still get their hands on mature-rated  games,
but this doesn't stop you as a parent from preventing your younger
kids from being exposed to more vulgar media.