How much are games to blame for mass shootings?

To start off, I think Wayne LaPierre's news conference blaming the culture was all wrong. Furthermore, the NRA itself is responsible for much of the "jackbooted thugs" culture that directly lead to the atrocity in CT.

But to what extent do video games encourage violence? Adam Lanza spent hours playing Call of Duty and you can't completely discount this from his psyche.

Personally, for me, shooter games just end up numbing me, but that's also because I"m not really into guns and so like rifles and submachine guns feel the same. I'm sure that for guys really into guns, the distinctions between teh different firearms are like the draw of the game.

None,This snot nosed loner was mentally deranged.

There not to blame at all, this is just a bunch of gun wielding idiots trying to move the blame to other peoples favorite pastimes in the hopes of not having there own banned. Here in the UK we don't have free access to guns, and you know what, for some strange reason no one goes into Schools or Cinema's and starts shooting people, it's weird.spike6958

QFT

They aren't.

Games like CoD aren't directly to blame for these shootings, but they might be more of a problem than a solution, in the grand scheme of things. I think parents let young people play these types of games way too much, and some players obsess with these types of games. A friend of mine, who is in the military, has gotten hooked on Call of Duty and he is not a gamer (this is the only thing he plays). He says that they are "teaching kids how to become killers".

I've noticed that a lot, and I mean a lot of people who play these online shooters tend to have anger problems, so maybe he's right. These kinds of games could be changing children, and not for the better. They seem to have no respect for life in general, and give it no value.

Came across this video the other day. It's a discussion about gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, but it also touches on the violence in games and media. I think Penn Jillette's response to the criticisms of games is great, although he does lose his cool a bit. Not surprised though seeing as the other talk show people kept arguing over him.

They seem to have no respect for life in general, and give it no value.

Zen_Light

Sounds like a bunch of them over at OT.

Strangely enough, we Canadians (and presumably, Europeans) have managed to play violent video games and not shoot each other.

Video games don't cause more violence,Its just that because the game industry have been growing these last years that more and more people who commit these violent acts also will happen to be in possession of a video game system.

Came across this video the other day. It's a discussion about gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, but it also touches on the violence in games and media. I think Penn Jillette's response to the criticisms of games is great, although he does lose his cool a bit. Not surprised though seeing as the other talk show people kept arguing over him.

Vari3ty

holy hell, i never thought i'd be able to find a textbook definition of dumb american house wives, and there they are. Love how they just go on and say : " IT'S CALL OF DUTY'S FAULT!" "IT'S THE POLTICIANS FAULT!" "IT'S THE MEDIA'S FAULT" and what not. All while ignoring the fact that maybe it was just one lunatic's fault.

People with normal, healthy coping skills don't commit mass shootings. Violence in media, whether TV, games or movies has been both controversial and well studied, but there is no direct link between the playing of video games and a propensity for violence. Substance abuse is the major factor in increased violence in the U.S. It's very difficult to kill real people with a video game. However, put a gun into the hands of a person with mental problems or substance abuse issues and, well, we see what happens time and time again. Easy access to guns by people who shouldn't have them is the problem.

People with normal, healthy coping skills don't commit mass shootings. Violence in media, whether TV, games or movies has been both controversial and well studied, but there is no direct link between the playing of video games and a propensity for violence. Substance abuse is the major factor in increased violence in the U.S. It's very difficult to kill real people with a video game. However, put a gun into the hands of a person with mental problems or substance abuse issues and, well, we see what happens time and time again. Easy access to guns by people who shouldn't have them is the problem.

capaho

I actually think that games are a trailing indicator of american culture. America right now is awash in gory military shooters like Call of Duty, but we've also been fighting two wars for much of the decade.

none...nra is just being ironic in all of this because they don't want the issue to fall to guns or better yet...just hold that man responsible for what he did

Boy this has been a hot topic lately... (I'm not in America, so I don't know what's going on with the subject over there in the news or whatever).

Anyway, no, games are not to blame at all. It's just dumb morons looking for a scapegoat.

For a video game to trigger someone to go out on a shooting spree, you yourself have to be even capable of doing such a thing in the first place. And I think I can safely assume that the majority of gamers worldwide hardly have the ability to kill, let alone point a loaded gun at a child.

Sorry any politicians looking to blame video games for an individuals own instability, but you're f*cking idiots if you do.