Kentucky governor says video games are to blame for school shootings

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Despite there being numerous studies out there indicating that the violence seen in realistic video games doesn't necessarily lead to real-life violence, that hasn't stopped certain entities from placing the blame on the gaming community in desperate times. Often when tragedies strike, an easy scapegoat beyond the circumstance as is are often warranted and gaming has been that scapegoat for a very long time.

When a horrific mass shooting took place on Valentine's Day in Boca Raton, Florida, at least 17 fatalities occurred alongside numerous injuries. The needless violence has changed the lives of many forever and once again divides the United States as to what needs to be done. With so many different opinions and reactions to the tragedy, it was only a matter of time before the gaming community was once more pulled in as a source of blame.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin recently stated in an interview that the violence seen in video games needs to be looked at, and once again targets in-game content as inspiration for real-life violence. This isn't Bevin's first time issuing this sort of reactionary statement either, he is on record saying that video games are "desensitizing young people" to the tragedies or killing in real life, while inspiring them to recreate scenes seen in these games.

“There are video games that, yes, are listed for mature audiences, but kids play them, and everybody knows it, and there’s nothing to prevent the child from playing them.” He furthered his graphic comparison by saying games “celebrate the slaughter of people. There are games that literally replicate and give people the ability to score points for doing the same thing that these students are doing inside of schools, where you get extra points for finishing someone who’s lying there begging for their life.”


Though this sort of commentary is nothing new, it is the sort that gets picked up by more generalized media painting the community at large in a violent light during already uncertain times. Hopefully the commentary about video games can soon desist, and the real issues can be tackled in order to prevent the loss of even more lives in the future, whatever that solution may be.

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Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: http://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/02/16/florida-school-shooting-video-game-violence/

Comments

"Kentucky governor says video games are to blame for school shootings" :: Login/Create an Account :: 37 comments

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GhostPosted:

Craig This guy is a complete tool. So like, he can shove his opinions up his ass.


Hahahaha, I guess some people aren't entitled to there own opinion. Especially when it's this stupid.

CraigPosted:

This guy is a complete tool. So like, he can shove his opinions up his ass.

QTPosted:

Cyka This is utter garbage and highly untrue i swear.


It is. Like I said before, SOOOOOOO many people play shooter games. IMO it is the parents fault for not raising them right. Being too sensitive and stuff like that. They failed as a parent. You cant blame movies or games or anything like that it is all the parents fault for not parenting right.

DragonPosted:

THere are so so so many people that play these video games and are great, and fantastic people. Video games are not to blame. The society is. Sick minded creatures are to blame.

QTPosted:

Tom
Ethan Smh, yes, because millions of people play shooters every day that means they are to blame... what kind of logic is that.


They blame video games when they cant find a true reason to blame for.


Exactly. Blaming video games is one of the dumbest excuses to put school shootings on.. Millions on millions of people play these daily and never get the idea to shoot anything.... disgusting they would even think that . They make the gaming community look bad when they say this.

CykaPosted:

This is utter garbage and highly untrue i swear.

TomPosted:

Ethan Smh, yes, because millions of people play shooters every day that means they are to blame... what kind of logic is that.


They blame video games when they cant find a true reason to blame for.

PostMalonePosted:

this is one of the most dumbest arguments there is. this is just an excuse to use because they dont want to figure out why the person did what they did. the persons psychology is the most probable thing you should look at in these situations, thats where the problem will be

matPosted:

I hate this argument so much! So this kid played Call of Duty. He ends up shooting into a school. But what about his mental state, his different problems in his life. Call of Duty has a MASSIVE fan base. Aswell as other FPS games. So to say that the violent act of mass murder is in direct correspondence to a video game is ridiculous.

EthanPosted:

Smh, yes, because millions of people play shooters every day that means they are to blame... what kind of logic is that.