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Gaming Wednesday, January 16th 2013 at 5:30 pm

President Obama Tells CDC to Investigate Link Between Video Games and Violence

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In an address this morning, President Obama outlined his plan to curb gun violence in America. That plan laid out 23 points, and included reinstating the ban on assault weapons, limiting magazines to 10 rounds, and ordering the Center for Disease Control to study a possible link between violence in video games and violence in the real world. We’re interested in seeing what they come up with.

We’ve defended video games from being blamed as the cause of tragic events like the Newtown, Connecticut shootings, but that’s largely because up until now there’s been no real data to support it. It’s just something people say whenever a tragedy like this occurs.

The White House’s plan also covers requiring background checks for all gun purchases, and focuses on mental health issues like the availability of treatment. It covers a wide base, and the research into a possible link between video games and violence is only a part of it, and not even a very big part. The President is only asking Congress to provide $10 million dollars for the research. That works out to be just two percent of the total $500 million plan.

Violence in video games may or may not have any impact on real life violence, but it certainly won’t hurt anybody to examine the possibility scientifically. Anything that can lead to less violence should at the very least be considered.

(via Polygon, image via Matt Ortega)

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  • Jacob

    One thing they can do is get stuff like Call of Duty out of the hands of 8 year olds.

  • Anonymous

    One thing parents can do is actually be responsible to what they get for their children.

  • Enthusiast

    At first, I was like “OMFG, this is so stupid!!” But maybe now it will be official that video games don’t cause violence. Violent crime has dropped over recent years and violent video game sales have increased over the same period.

    It’s clear that our ‘leaders’ in D.C. haven’t got a clue and really don’t care. After all, they have armed guards. As the NRA pointed out, the Obama girls have armed guards when they go to school. Why would the politicians care if we get killed. They only have to pretend like they’re doing something about the problem. It’s security theater and it has been the staple of the last 2 administrations.

    Paraphrasing Robert A. Heinlein, gun control is like demanding that grown men live on skim milk because the baby can’t eat steak. Punish the criminals, free the law-abiding citizens. If the freaks in the DNC had their way, only criminals would have high-powered weapons and extended clips. That’s a genius move!

  • Idlethoughts

    Fun fact, bullets generally don’t deflect bullets. So when someone is attacked by a criminal with a gun, having a gun as well mostly just leads to either a criminal with two guns or the criminal and the victim being dead.

    Also, what the hell does a law-abiding citizen need extended clips for, why do you need that many bullets if your not trying to kill a lot of people all at once?

    And finally, is there anything actually wrong with background checks, which would “Punish the criminals” by not allowing them to just go buy a gun again?

  • Idlethoughts

    But not all adults are responsible about what they give to their children, so there’s still nothing stoping someone else’s child from being the one who shoots and kill’s their child.

  • Anonymous

    You’re too smart for me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/robin.jones.50309 Robin Jones

    wow, just when you thought it was safe to leave the building, obama turns into george w. gump

  • http://www.forwardbeat.com/ Paul Wilson

    what a waste of taxpayer dollars.

  • http://www.mixedtopics.com/ Michael Sommer

    Everything. OK, then we have to look for links between violence and TV, music, stupid politicians, bathing little kids too hot… The only way to reduce violence of this kind are regular mental checks for all. But we better don’t tell this to the media – they’re crazy enough to call for this! BTW, the extensive coverage on such shootings is FOR SURE a “good” motivation for the next psycho!

  • Anonymous

    THIS MAKES SENSE…

    “That works out to be just two percent of the total $500 million plan.
    Violence in video games may or may not have any impact on real life violence, but it certainly won’t hurt anybody to examine the possibility scientifically.”

    Thank you for a well reasoned, optimistic view.

  • the_silence

    If it was common sense to not sell guns to people who legally can’t buy them, then why would we need a law stating that it can not happen?

  • Anonymous

    The CDC will always exist, it has to in this day and age, why not keep them busy? Its actually a use of taxpayer dollars.

  • Anonymous

    CS:S at the age of 8 player here. I like to consider myself a pretty kind human being. I enjoyed the hell out of that game too, wonder where my love for Computer Science would be without it.

  • Goffe

    The problem cant be video games because the problem with shootings in schools and other public areas have almost no existans in Europe.