Earlier today we reported that Vice President Joe Biden would be discussing violent video game reform with some members of the video game industry.
Now another well known governor has joined numerous other politicians in blaming video games for violence and tragedies like the one in Newtown Connecticut. Today during an interview New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to talk about how gun control was not enough; that we also need to focus on mental health and violence in video games.
“we need to talk violence in these video games. I have four kids at home, I don’t allow Call of Duty or these other games in. We have to start talking about that as parents.”
He went on to say, that any national reform to prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown needs to include examining four things: mental illness, drug abuse, gun control, and violent video games.
Ironically he mentions nothing about examining the parents who buy their ten year old a “M” rated video game; probably because that might cut into his actual constituents.
The truth is, the video game industry is more responsible than almost any other form of media when it comes to making sure minors don’t get their hands on content they shouldn’t. The real problem is the irresponsibility of the parents who buy their kids violent video games when they shouldn’t.
I personally have stood in line at midnight releases for GTA IV and other “M” rated games where parents are standing there with their 10-12 year old kids buying the game for them. But focusing on bad parenting is just not as enticing politically as scapegoating violent video games I guess.
Source: Polygon
