NRA Uses Video Games As Scapegoat For Newtown Tragedy
I won't comment because in the bigger scheme of things, from the most general societal and philosophical standpoint, the man definitely has a point.
It seems the National Rifle Association was in need of something to blame in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting tragedy. And they found it in...well, just about every form of current entertainment, especially video games.
NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre is now on the record saying that violent games are at least partially to blame, and he cites a few of the bloodiest available:
"There exists in this country a callous, corrupt, and corrupting shadow industry that sells, and sows, violence against its own people. 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 department could find it and all of yours either couldn't or didn't want anyone to know you had found it?"
However, he didn't stop there, as he decided to go after both movies and music; both industries have come under fire in the past several decades for supposedly promoting bad behavior:
"Then there's the blood-soaked slasher films like American Psycho and Natural Born Killers that are aired like propaganda loops on Splatterdays and every day, and a thousand music videos that portray life as a joke and murder as a way of life. And then they have the nerve to call it entertainment. But is that what it really is? Isn't fantasizing about killing people as a way to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography?"
LaPierre finished by saying that the media, the ones responsible for those games, films, and music, are all caught up in a "race to the bottom" and are only competing to "shock, violate, and offend every standard of civilized society." Well, that's a little harsh but it's hard to see it any other way.
Tags: newtown shooting, connecticut shooting, nra, national rifle association, video games
12/21/2012 10:53:03 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (79 posts)
Beamboom
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 12:52:26 AM
... But, it's the computer games and movies who is to blame, right? American media is global, we enjoy that same entertainment. But yeah, yeah. Whatever.
I'll just leave it at that. I don't have the stomach to enter this discussion, I'm just happy I don't live in your country.
(podcast who goes more into detail can be heard on bbc co uk/moreorless)
Last edited by Beamboom on 12/22/2012 1:02:39 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 2:56:41 AM
Beamboom
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 7:08:34 AM
They may not represent the absolute majority Underdog, but it's scary how many Americans I see on the internet who talk like them.
Comparatively speaking they practically got a civil war going on in their country and defend their "freedom" and "rights" like the American dream was some sort of anarchy.
I just... I'm biting my tongue to avoid tangling myself into a discussion these days. This is for the Americans themselves to try to figure out and solve and the rest of us to study from a social anthropological perspective, and maybe - hopefully - learn something from it.
Last edited by Beamboom on 12/22/2012 7:41:06 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 9:27:20 AM
PSN French
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:28:44 PM
sawao_yamanaka
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:45:44 PM
PSN French
Sunday, December 23, 2012 @ 3:10:44 AM
Maybe we should ban everything that can be used as a weapon, and bubble wrap the entire world so nobody gets a boo-boo. Go back to candyland where you can be kept in your little artificially happy world. As for my household, we prefer dangerous liberty to safe slavery. Nobody directs my life or my safety, and if my guns are taken away, I have the ability to get illegal weapons to protect my family, both from criminals and an oppressive government. Sorry, some of us prefer to think for ourselves as opposed to "following the sheep".
JoebooSauce
Sunday, December 23, 2012 @ 1:14:19 PM
Let's ban all the video games before we even think of banning guns. Or make it more RIGOROUS buying a gun and bullets. You wouldn't sound like an idiot if you didn't parrot the NRA line like that. If you're gonna parrot quotes, parrot this one that I just made up for you.
"Guns make it easier to kill people on a whim than if people didn't have them."
Person gets in a rage... hmmmm... no guns, let me use a kitchen knife, of baseball bat to kill 26 people in a minute... Guns make it easy to kill someone with a flicker of a thought.
Killa Tequilla
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 11:44:43 PM
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Kratoskillall09
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 12:00:46 AM
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Clamedeus
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 12:03:27 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:00:58 AM
You know... Columbine had an armed deputy on site the day of their shooting... just saying... it sounds like the NRA forgot about that fact in their suggestion to arm elementary schools with an armed guard. Now, maybe that armed guard prevented further murders than what happened, but we can't prove it. And it's not like we don't have guns here in Canada, either. My uncle has a nice little collection. But no civilian could have a hope in hell of heavily arming themselves like these mass murderers can. Can't that at least be limited?
The two countries with the lowest gun related deaths AND HOMICIDES in the world... are Japan and Iceland. Go wikipedia it.
And if you can't let go of your precious guns (I have kitchen knives in my, well, kitchen... that's enough for me to be perfectly confident in my ability to protect my family) ask yourself... Why in the freaking world is the USA such an incredible outlier in 1st world violence??? Hint: it isn't video games... it isn't poor access to mental health care... and it isn't movies or anything else in the media, because we all have those issues too!!
So before anyone tries arguing why you SHOULD have guns... tell me why the USA is so incredibly violent in both overall numbers and per capita.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 3:06:13 AM
PSN French
Sunday, December 23, 2012 @ 3:18:22 AM
matt99
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:39:16 AM
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 12:26:38 PM
sawao_yamanaka
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:20:06 PM
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:09:29 PM
Geobaldi
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 1:33:39 AM
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Snaaaake
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 2:08:53 AM
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Hundreds and millions of gamers out there, one or two psychopaths go massacre and entertainment is to be blamed?
What about every other gamers who never go psycho?
Why aren't they, and why aren't WE, the normal one get any consideration?
So if one guy drive a car and run down a group of children crossing the street, does that mean driving will make you go psycho as well?
All these douchebag know is putting the blame on something else when the real issue is being ignored.
If video game really is to be blame for every massacre and that if it really does make a normal teenager go on a killing spree, then massacre would be a weekly event everywhere on earth.
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 2:26:02 AM
Snaaaake
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:07:26 AM
Massacre is those countries doesn't shock anyone.
I'm saying that if video games does make people go psycho, then peaceful places like Australia, UK, Japan, Singapore, Canada etc. will have massacres every week. And worse in the US.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 12/22/2012 3:08:10 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:07:43 AM
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:03:13 PM
It's sad because it is the general consensus of the world. A school in the U.S gets shot up and the whole world worries about it, a school in another country gets blown up, and it's not even news worthy..I suppose that should probably be blamed on video games as well...
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:12:30 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:41:58 PM
That's why people pay attention.
But in the third world, of course it isn't ok for innocent to die. But they don't have political power as a democracy to do anything about it. WE do, yet we still can't actually do anything about it... and it's our choice.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 3:43:16 PM
SaiyanSempai
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 2:20:54 AM
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Jed
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:21:05 AM
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We all know that some media, be it violent games or movies are not meant for children, but they get exposed to them anyway. If media were the cause of the horrible events they are blamed for there would be countless atrocious acts of violence occurring all over the country every day.
Is it games that make people violent? Or are violent people attracted to the violent games?
Last edited by Jed on 12/22/2012 3:23:24 AM
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:50:04 AM
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tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:09:02 AM
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I don't care what the rest of the world thinks about the gun issues in America, they're not governed by our constitution. If you care to read it, you will see why gun ownership is included. The rest of the world is powerless against a corrupt government. We have a chance to retake ours if and when it ever goes rogue. There is no compromising when it comes to keeping your freedom.
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 9:31:11 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 9:37:20 AM
I betcha your founding fathers wouldn't have made such a loose-ended constitution if they had any idea "household" weapons could cause the damage they clearly can cause. I'm sorry, but there's nothing semi-automatic about a bayonet and musket.
I love my American friends and relatives. But if your argument is an actual real and respected argument there that holds more water than any real argument, then I'm sorry, but your country is backwards, slow, hypocritical, violent, and governed by tradition. TRADITION is what you are governed by. An IDEAL. A thought... a notion. Not by laws that identify reality... Honestly, wake up and jump ahead by 50 years and catch up already... As if your personal rights to a hobby are more important than realizing that yeah... easy access to guns is NOT a good idea!!!
So tell me... why SHOULD you own guns? REALLY... a good reason. "Because I want to" doesn't count. And protection doesn't count either. Protection is a shotgun that everyone can see so they don't mess with you. The best protection is prevention, not the element of surprise. And since it's unlikely a small army will assault your house, assault rifles don't count either.
So lets hear it... a good reason that means mass murderers should also be able to get a hold of them. Or maybe some changes are necessary afterall.... And while you're at it... tell me why it doesn't happen to the same degree as other first world countries to justify your answer.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 9:51:07 AM
tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 10:24:33 AM
History repeats itself, but we never learn from it. America will go bad eventually, and Americans will be the only ones willing to fight to stop it. Our constitution says our rights are granted to us by God, not man. Peoples rights around the world are granted to them by the state and our government is trying to the same here.
Convincing people to throw out the constitution as being outdated and irrelevant would be a horrible mistake and only evil will come of it. I refuse to live under a government that thinks they own me and I'm willing to die to keep it from happening. Live or die, I still get it my way. I guess the world doesn't have anything worth dying for.
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:42:25 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:43:54 PM
My grandfather, my best man and all his brothers, all fought for freedoms in our military. And that freedom on home soil is worth dying for. So don't feed me that bullsh!t. You just don't have a good argument and your only way of combating it is "mind your own business".
Please. I don't have a gun, and i could still kick your a$$. Don't be so self-righteous and ignorant. Use your damn head, tes. You're a smart guy. Try thinking critically about this. My good lord... because you own a gun and I don't, you therefore have more to die for than me? Please... get off your high horse.
I'm still waiting an actual rebuttal... "Because they said so 200 years ago"... Please. THAT'S your argument???
And please... please... tell me... why couldn't the armed deputy at Columbine stop those murderous bastards? The answer to stop gun violence is to arm the populace? Are you serious? How do you not see the problems with that?!
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 3:49:13 PM
tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:52:47 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:52:56 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:54:04 PM
Seriously... give me a REAL argument.
Go on. I dare you.
Typical gun-toting american. In the face of an intellectual argument, I'm met with "come say it to my face and my concealed weapon I'll surprise you with."
Oh what's that? You don't HAVE an argument? Oh? Your natural response is to say, "No! I don't wanna! And I don't have to!"
Why don't you just add "neiner neiner" to the end of your argument.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 4:03:01 PM
tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:06:22 PM
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:16:06 PM
I do have some thoughts for you though Tes, although, I don't think I can change you're mind on it.
First off not all americans feel they need to own guns, in fact only about 20% of Americans actually do, which means that 80% of the country feels that the government, military and police are enough to protect them. Now of the 20% of the people that do have guns, they own 65% of the guns in America...Really? That means that when, as you put it, America goes bad, the chances that it coming from the 20% is higher then the rest of the country. What are you protecting from? Invasion from other countries? You don't think that you're multi billion dollar military isn't going to be enough to protect you? You afraid you're government will become corrupt? In a lot of countries most of them already are, but even so, is a gun really going to protect you from a government that you're own country voted into office? Terrorism? I don't know if you noticed but the last few attacks didn't involve a gun, and anyone who had one on them couldn't have done anything about them...
Now I do understand that there are some areas in the US, just as there are in other countries that you do feel a need to 'protect' yourself, but guess what? Those areas existed in civilization before the gun. When Cain killed Abel by bashing his brains in with a rock, the answer was not to get a bigger rock and retaliate..
I guess it all comes down to how much you value a life. When you buy a gun to protect yourself or your family, you may see that as a small investment. But as soon as you thumb a bullet into the chamber, that means that whoever you aim that gun at, their life is only worth the price of a bullet, roughly 25 cents...And what if someone else gets a hold of that gun and uses it on your family? Suddenly you're families life all boils down to the price of a bullet you paid for, but hey, at least you did everything you could do to protect them..
Last edited by CH1N00K on 12/22/2012 4:51:45 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:20:32 PM
I'm still waiting for a real argument. Until you do, I'll just take the double-u on thisone.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 4:21:27 PM
tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:27:20 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 5:02:42 PM
But you hate facts.
I do not think Americans are backwards. I think some international policy, gun laws, and equal rights laws are backwards, yes. But not Americans. In fast I'm encouraged lately to see so many positive changes in many different areas.
Please don't hear what you want to hear.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 12/22/2012 5:05:13 PM
tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 5:47:27 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 6:24:52 PM
tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 6:59:39 PM
I have a child too and I love her with all my heart. I do care about the children who were murdered, but we're kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place as to finding an adequate solution. An outright ban, I believe, will further escalate the problem and render us all helpless.
The police in our country investigate crimes after they happen and in no way provide any form of protection. They may serve as a slight deterrent, but cannot prevent crimes from taking place. I know I should have posted this earlier instead of getting a little upset over nothing. My apologies again, to you and any Canadians I may have offended.
ulsterscot
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:52:45 AM
Reply
Excelsior1
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 10:57:12 AM
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tes37
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 11:25:59 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:50:51 PM
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:35:17 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 3:49:45 PM
Reply
sawao_yamanaka
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:13:26 PM
CH1N00K
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:17:16 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:23:24 PM
sawao_yamanaka
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 4:25:57 PM
PharaohJR
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 5:08:48 PM
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if "violent video games & entertainment" is the motive behind massacre & murders explain to me how 1 man that practiced the bible managed to get his followers to do suicide with no tool involved.....
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 5:35:59 PM
bigrailer19
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:03:33 PM
Ive bwoukdeadin your posts and I feel that now some tension is gone and I can respond. ;)
Theres no clear answer to that, but guns are not the reason. Any criminal can use any means necessary. If its not a gun its a knife, if it isnt a knife it could be an explosive. This may not be that answer you seek but I honestly dont have one. Its sad this goes on, and we are asking the same question.
I dont think guns should be banned and our gun laws do not allow anyone to get a gun. But there should be tighter restrictions. Not on the types of guns you can own but obtaining one legally. Problem is criminals can still get access somehow and if not they find another means.
The statistic I would be interested in is seeing how many guns involved in a crime also involve the registered owner.
I dont jnow if yiu heard about the shooting in Oregon not long ago. But what isnt being told so much in the media is the shooter wasnt the inly person with a gun in the mall that day. There was another man, a legal concealed weapon holder. Amidst the ongoing tragedy the man drew his gun on the shooter, as the shooter was trying tk fix the jammed weapon. I d
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 12/22/2012 8:23:40 PM
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:19:44 PM
bigrailer19
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 9:25:51 PM
here is my full post.
Underdog-
Ive been reading your posts and I feel that now some tension is gone and I can respond. ;)
Theres no clear answer to that, but guns are not the reason. Any criminal can use any means necessary. If its not a gun its a knife, if it isnt a knife it could be an explosive. This may not be that answer you seek but I honestly dont have one. Its sad this goes on, and we are asking the same question.
I dont think guns should be banned and our gun laws do not allow anyone to get a gun. But there should be tighter restrictions. Not on the types of guns you can own but obtaining one legally. Problem is criminals can still get access somehow and if not they find another means.
The statistic I would be interested in is seeing how many guns involved in a crime also involve the registered owner.
I dont know if you heard about the shooting in Oregon not long ago. But what isnt being told so much in the media is the shooter wasnt the only person with a gun in the mall that day. There was another man, a legal concealed weapon holder. Amidst the ongoing tragedy the man drew his gun on the shooter, as the shooter was trying to fix the jammed weapon. The shooter seen the man draw on him and the shooter took his own life. I dont know about you but that other man and his *gun* appears to have saved a lot more lives in this tragic incident.
Another local thing that happened was a man trying to get into someones house forcefully was killed by means of self defense. Had there been no protection that man could have caused any form of harm. You'd probably just say grab a knife but its still a form of protection and the people in the house as I understand it was a woman, child and the woman's father (age unknown to me).
Not in every case can a person protect himself with a knife, especially against a gun. So we truly do need and rely on law enforcement, who we call in emergencies who coincidentally would protect us with, what do you know, a gun. But they cant always be there on time. Thats just a realization that we have to accept, which makes a form of protection all the more necessary.
We dont want to hold on to our rights because its been written for so many years. But because thats just what it is, our right. Not that its just protection but because guns are a passed time whether used for sport, hunting or recreation. We wernt just given the right to own guns because they are not harmful, they can be in the wrong hands. But because as people we should be protected by any means necessary. The right was given to citizens so there was balance of power, so there is no unevenness and that sense of security is strongly possessed.
PharaohJR
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 9:32:19 PM
Underdog15
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 11:08:05 PM
I get all that and I see where you are coming from. My inner struggle has to do with trying to make sense of tragedy and why the us is such an outliestatistically to everyone else.
bigrailer19
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 11:52:12 PM
firesoul453
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 7:33:23 PM
Reply
Amnesiac
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 7:51:01 PM
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Why is the NRA excluded from the same responsibility as the drug companies, the tobacco industry and every alcohol company?
(I think this is where a much needed gun debate in America should start....)
Last edited by Amnesiac on 12/22/2012 7:51:44 PM
JackDillinger89
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:51:59 PM
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Funny before columbine the last mass killing of school children occured in the 1920s and guess what weapons were used during that time? Dynamite. Not guns and guns were less restricted during that time when it was easy to get real fully automatic assault weapons. How can there be justice on stolen land? America was taken from the indians with not slingshots and bow and arrows but with guns. Guns are apart of american heritage wether the international community likes it or not. A century ago it was ok for the average american to be armed for hunting or defense of your home without a license and even carry it openly. But time have changed population has grown denser and multicultral. countries started hating each other add the world wars.
Japan wasnt the peaceful country it is today a half a century ago it was a blood thirsty suicidal bully that though it was superior to the rest of the world till it climbed up the wrong tree and our guns and bomb dropping made them the peacful and vibrant beautiful country it is today. Had we not succeed japan might be much different today.
Africa is killing children everyday with guns and machetes for decades more than guns kill americans yet internationally everyone till this day still turns a blind eye.
But as far as this new desease of school shootings that has has sweeped rural america blame not games. Nor movies. Nor guns [even though it makes it easier to kill faster] before columbine there wasnt mass school shootings. Blame the real death machine the news media. Without looking online now as your reading this off the top of your head how many of the sandy hook victims or the aurora colorado, ft hood, columbine, virginia tech shooting victims names can you remember? Probably none cept gabriel giffords cuz shes a government official. But we all know newtowns school shooting killers name right his name is all over the news headlines all over the world. Just like the columbine shooters micheal moore a anti gun guy helps make them famous by making a documantary about there monsterous spree. Copy cat basement dwelling nobodys take notice. CNN will make you famous.
JackDillinger89
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 9:04:12 PM
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Scoff at americans owning guns but if it happens in your country he gets a decade or two so in jail and tea and buiscuts with the guards. And eventually earns his freedom again.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 10:25:51 PM
JROD0823
Monday, December 24, 2012 @ 3:55:24 AM
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It is a matter of numbers that you are so desperately looking for for your answer. I can guarantee you that by numbers, the U.S. has more guns than every other 1st world country combined.
I know it sounds like a cold-hearted way to look at it, but going solely off of statistics, with tens of millions of guns being kept in one country, 11,000 deaths by gunshot wounds isn't really that high in comparison. Even if you guessed a VERY lowball estimate of 11 million guns legally owned, if every death by gun in the U.S. was caused by one of these legally obtained weapons, it would still only account for one one-tenth of one percent of all of the guns I mentioned above, AND it is a fact that the majority of these killings are by caused by illegally obtained firearms.
I agree with tes37 and bigrailer19, guns do NOT need to be banned, the processes by which you are required to obtain one legally need to be strengthened. Like tes said also, it doesn't matter what country you live in, if you want to get a gun to use it on somebody, then you will obtain it by whatever means possible. Also, people that buy guns should be mandated to have in their possession a gun safe before owning a gun. The safe should be inspected randomly twice a year by a regulating body of local law enforcement to ensure that these TOOLS are being kept in a safe manner away from people other than the legal owners. All legal gun owners should be kept in a database to enable law enforcement to keep tabs on those that don't own guns legally.
Last edited by JROD0823 on 12/24/2012 4:23:18 AM
ima420r
Tuesday, December 25, 2012 @ 4:47:27 AM
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I know that making something illegal doesn't make it magically disappear, how many pot smokers are there in the US? They get the illegal drug somewhere. Guns are no different.
Things do need to change in the US, and just making gun laws more strict is a start. But business practices, drug use, mental illness care, education... these things are just a few others issues that should be worked on as well.
I read the numbers on gun deaths and the various countries where they are banned or hard to obtain and I would like to know what the education rates are? So many people in America seem just plain stupid, not everyone of course, but I know a few too many idiots (and see them on TV all the time too!). I wonder if some of these other countries have better educational systems than the US? America uses outdated and skewed text books and underfund schools like it's going out of style!

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WorldEndsWithMe
Reply
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 11:08:48 PM
I won't argue either way because I have my own ideas and I have ideas that are best for the country but in the end it doesn't matter, Mr. LaPierre and his associates will find themselves on the wrong end of America with this and other rhetoric including but not limited to arming everyone in the nation.
We have these games in the UK too; how much gun violence do they have?