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Uncategorized Friday, December 21st 2012 at 12:24 pm

National Rifle Association Basically Blames Violent Video Games for Sandy Hook, Insists We Just Need More Guns

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Sigh. Okay, here it is, people. We pretty much all saw it coming. As soon as it was made known that the National Rifle Association would be holding a press conference today, palms were applied to faces with mutterings of, “Oh jeez, maybe the world really will end.” It had been making the rounds that the NRA would likely blame violent video games for the Sandy Hook tragedy, because of course, so everyone prepared for the worst when Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and CEO of the organization, began speaking. Let’s just say, things went about like folks expected it would.

To say the entire press conference came off like something The Onion might present wouldn’t be an inaccurate statement. Not only did LaPierre fail to acknowledge that maybe the accessibility of weapons is a problem, but he lazily blamed a series of video games, followed by movies, for these kind of horrifying events. “There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt, and corrupting shadow industry that sells and sows violence against its own people,” he said. “Through vicious violent video games, with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, and Splatterhouse.”

He then went on about a game called Kindergarten Killers, which is apparently a Flash game out there on the web from ten years ago and plays out like the name implies, calling the media “lazy” for not finding it as well. The reality of the situation, of course, is that Kindergarten Killers has absolutely nothing to do with shooting beyond a tangential similarity, but whatever. It wasn’t our press conference.

Perhaps the most insulting suggestion from LaPierre is that it takes a “good guy” with a gun to stop a “bad guy” with a gun, so we should obviously post armed guards at schools. The only way to solve gun violence is to have more guns to protect against guns, you see. If we didn’t have guns, then guns would just be everywhere. Trust us.

Also, the press conference ending with the statement that “this is the beginning of a serious conversation,” but they’re not taking questions? That’s… not what a conversation is. At best, it’s a monologue, or perhaps a diatribe. Just sayin’.

(image via Don O’Brien, h/t to Jason Anderson, as he’s pointed out that the image is actually from the National Recovery Administration)

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  • Anonymous

    Agreed. And Nothing Is Likely To Change… Only a POTUS were to loose his family or be lost him/herself, would change take place, and then most assuredly NOT for the better… Also just sayin’…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-E-Screws-Jr/5200506 Bruce E. Screws Jr.

    Whatever happened to blaming the person who actually committed the act for doing something so heinous?

    There already are “school resource officers” in most schools anyway. What are the odds that one armed guy would make a difference anyway?

    Mass shootings only occur in “gun-free zones.” With regards to the “more guns” argument, what if teachers were able to VOLUNTARILY conceal carry at school after training and certification? There is a school system in Texas that actually allows for this. There are multiple examples of school shootings that were stopped by armed civilians.

    When was the last mass shooting at a gun range or gun show? What evidence is there that the proposed gun control legislation would have even prevented this?

    This is one of those situations where it is sad, it is a tragedy, but it is unlikely that it could have been prevented. It will be used as justification to further erode the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

  • Anonymous

    And we must ban radio stations and symphony orchestras from playing Gustav Mahler’s “Kindertotenlieder” (“Songs on the Deaths of Children”).

  • Cheeze439

    It’s very simple, inaccessibility to guns leads to… Wait for it… Less guns. Wake up America… Your president has but he’s up against redneck trash that need that little piece to make their dick feel bigger.

  • Anonymous

    is this guy out of his mind?! Dumbass. even if you blame videogames how can you be so out of common sense to suggest LETS GIVE EVERYONE A EFFIN GUN !. because guns are the answer, give more guns to more crazy people. lets see how that works!.
    if im not wrong people can already get guns like candy, that easy. so..that doesnt really rings a bell concerning the recent event?.
    but at the same time as Bruce E. said its very unlikely that it could have been prevented.

  • http://twitter.com/rayban5016 Ray O.

    Everyone is Switzerland is required to own a gun and it has about the lowest violent crime rate in the world.

  • http://twitter.com/rayban5016 Ray O.

    Oh F-you Cheezedick. If you want to have a grown up conversation you need to grow up first. Why do you think the Founders put it in the Constitution? For shits and giggles? No moron, it’s there so we can protect ourselves, and you, from crazies like that asshole in CT. If they hadn’t put it in the Constitution you lib fucksticks would have banned guns long ago and he still would have used a knife, TNT or gasoline to kill those innocent kids. Taking guns away from law abiding citizens just makes the “gun free zones/hunting areas” much bigger for mass shooters. If guns kill people then spoons made Michale Moore fat.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1353811990 Jeremy Carbone

    Adding “dick” to the end of someone’s user name isn’t the best way to initiate a grown-up conversation, either. I’m primarily liberal, and in strong support of the second amendment. Why do you feel the need to be so brash and exclusive? If you truly care about gun rights, and convincing people that the second amendment is something to be protected, you might want to consider acting less like a rage-consumed child and more like a concerned adult.

  • Anonymous

    yeah but i think is more of a culture thing. there was a time here when government gave people guns to defend their properties and families from guerrilla. but after sometime those people transformed into something actually worse than the original guerrilla. my point being is impossible to make it work everywhere because of the different level of education people have.

  • Jack Bond

    I’m not sure I agree with the idea of armed guards, but it’s always better for “good guys” to have access to guns with which to defend themselves.

    Did you know, all adult males in Sweden are required to own and be trained to use a gun, and that country has one of the lowest murder rates in the world?

  • Jimbob

    I live in Australia and we have some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Culturally, Australia is very similar to America. Gun ownership however is where we differ. I ask Americans to look at places like Australia and the UK and see that our people share all of the freedoms if not more than you do in the states. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, religious beliefs etc these are the freedoms that really concern the people. Guns are great and all but common sense needs to prevail and military style assault weapons in the hands of unlicensed au registered civilians is just sheer lunacy. Sorry guys we’re living in a global community and America needs to start looking and listening to your neighbours. God bless, merry Christmas.

  • Cheeze439

    Reading Ray’s venomous response sets off all kinds of alarms as to why some like that should never be in possession of a firearm. I welcome a mature debate on the subject but simple facts and figures prove that stricter gun laws work. America has the highest murder rate via firearms in the world and is one countries where it is easier to get you hands on a gun. Here in the UK we have extremely tight gun laws and only specially trained police carry firearms. Yet we are amongst the lowest tallies of gun related deaths. That’s not to say they don’t happen and personally I’d arm our entire police force. You have no need to defend yourself with a gun if there isn’t an issue with guns being available. Can you not see that? The vast majority of the world is trying to help you see this yet this backward eroticism America had with guns is on a par with some of the barbaric crap in the Middle East that America is quick to condemn. We’re not being hostile towards you, we are offering advice

  • TheReptile

    The 2nd amendment provides for a ‘well-regulated’ militia, not a bunch of random guys with whatever guns they want. And we already have a National Guard.

  • Bambucha

    Let’s see…A country that has been battling between Catholics and Protestants, and until recently has had a few teeny, tiny issues with IED’s is now attempting to tell us how to handle the crazies in our country? And the little fact about a rising tidal wave of violent assaults (and crime in general)in England, against the civilian populace seems to have slipped your mind too, it seems.

    I am VERY sure you wouldn’t like to Google…let’s say….”VIOLENT CRIME IN ENGLAND”….

    How dare you. How dare all those who use the tragedy of these children for spreading false data and misinformation to bolster an agenda.

  • Cheeze439

    You can’t even begin to compare the levels of violent crime in my country to yours and if we had the type of access to guns that you do this place would be in dire straits that’s for sure. I am not using the deaths of the children to bolster any agenda, it’s you and the NRA using it to ratify the 2nd amendment. Something written in 1791 when the world was a very different place and the right to bear arms was probably necessary but it has no place in a modern civilised society. You all live in a state of fear whipped up by the media that has you all trembling behind your doors with one hand on your glock.

    We have had a school shooting years ago in a similar vein to Connecticut, banning guns won’t erase gun crime but it greatly reduces it. Compare the numbers of gun deaths as a percentage of you population then go do it for other countries. I’d go as far as to say its not just the guns that are the issue, it’s the state of mind some of you clearly have.

  • hello world

    ok first off i support the idea but not the concept i mean yeah games are bad but its the individual who plays them not everybudy it depends on your mentality peace should be ecvery where not violence but at the same time this is real life i support the effort but parents should have teh decision on what they allow there kids to play not the goverment so… how does this help? i mean people will always be people and i wish people werent violent but alot of things contribute to violence video games sleep deprevation and the movies andgnagstersongs its wrong this soicety has made a horrible decison but why condemn all people who play these games some have more common sense then to absorb such media spoken ideas games are bad but it contributes tomany factors kids shouldnt play violent video games itsbad but it should be the parents resposiblity tod ecide and moderate it if they do so choose to let the kids play not the goverments decisoin well with that said maybe people should look around at themselves overall as a society peace isent always possible but we can try to be a better people by moderating everything in healthy doses not make such things life go outside pick up a basketball play have fun injoy your self dont just play games all day do both but in small doses 1 hour video games to 2 hours of study to 3 hours of playing with friends an socializing

    get a girlfriend stop bullying becuase it also will damage people ina time like this we should be mourning not destroying peoples emotions let this settle and then decide when were all ready to decide what to do about guns its a tragedy what happened guns are bad but they protect loved ones from violent intruders implement stronger gun control but dont take away the secound amendment people will have the black market criminals then have guns and the law enforcement but what about if the lawenforcement isent around and the criminal breaks in to the house then what whats did we solve? nothing this is my suggestion back ground checks, beinga better parent listening to your kids and understanding is also important never say your busy or its to late ur kids are the future instigate the right ideals in them and sociaty will better itself you are never to busy to talk….

  • Steve

    In addition, the Swiss have compulsory military service. So at least they some professional training with the handling of guns. The same can be said of Sweden, well up to 2010 anyway,

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=730377263 Jonathan Courtney

    science has already proven time and time again video games have no impact of violence with guns

  • http://www.digitalstormonline.com/ Andy Houghton

    It’s not surprising that the NRA points the finger at violent video games, and no doubt they played a role, but not as big a role as mental illness paired with easy access to a high-powered assault rifle.

  • Rory Yeung

    With regards to Sweden;

    a) they abandoned that in 2010 (see below)

    b) that’s because they have a conscription policy, (ended in 2010) where all adult males were supposed to serve in the army for a period of national service

    c) if this was run in any way like the Swiss run theirs, then the actual rounds for the rifles were only issued in wartime, and were otherwise controlled by the government, for a similar effect as controlling the guns themselves