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Gaming Thursday, January 31st 2013 at 3:00 pm

Yes, Video Games Affect People, But That Doesn’t Give Guns a Free Pass

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In an effort to not be constantly branded as That Guy when the violence in video games conversation crops up, I’d initially just rolled my eyes at the comments from U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) yesterday morning in regards to video games and guns. We’ve had this discussion over and over, and it’s one worth having if we’re actually going to talk about the issues at hand, but Alexander instead opted to make a laughably meaningless statement about the nature of video games and how they’re a bigger problem than guns. Sigh. Okay, I guess we’re doing this, then.

Check out Alexander’s comments, after he was asked about background checks, during this segment on NBC News:

Here’s what he said for those that don’t feel up to listening to the man’s inane ramblings:

[...] I think video games is a bigger problem than guns, because video games affect people. But the First Amendment limits what we can do about video games, the Second Amendment to the Constitution limits what we can do about guns.

A lot of folks have taken Alexander to task for the “video games affect people” snippet, but that’s not where he’s off the mark. Video games do affect people! They affect people both positively and negatively, that’s not what’s silly here. Is it a mostly pointless remark? Yes, absolutely, but he’s not wrong. What’s really bizarre is that this man, a U.S. Senator, seems to genuinely believe that video games are a bigger issue than guns.

Let’s call it like it is: Video games are a relatively young medium, and the culture is slow to accept such things. If we were to replace “video games” with “film” or “television,” people would be even more dismissive of Alexander’s comments. We all know these things affect us, but saying they’re a bigger problem than weapons that are actively used to harm other people? To kill other people? It’s not like guns were made to plant crops, or something equally as mundane.

Misdirection, as usual, is a tool that politicians know all too well.

(via Ars Technica, image via Sam Howzit)

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  • http://www.vgbetas.com/ Pace

    Guns dont effect people too? We need to get these old farts out of Washington. Time for some new blood with out 50 year old ideology.

  • Anonymous

    When someone else is cramming their ideology down your throat, I don’t think you care how old they are.

  • Enthusiast

    It’s not about an ideology.. there is next to nothing separating the two parties. It’s about getting re-elected and these hot button issues are what does it. Since the ban on assault weapons was lifted in 2004, about 350 people were killed by assault rifles. It came out just recently that the assault weapon that the guy had at Sandy Hook was found in the car and was never used to kill anyone.

    To put this in perspective, food poisoning kills more people than assault rifles. Clearly, if saving lives were their concern, they’d look at new food safety laws. But they only care about getting votes, so they go with what will get people riled up.

    Also, assault rifles and hand guns are both banned in Washington, D.C. D.C. also has the highest firearm murder rate in the country (possibly the world), so clearly banning firearms works.

  • Anonymous

    It’s sad when the rarity that members from both sides of the political party agree upon, is that video games are a factor in mass shootings. I think it just shows how out of touch the majority of politicians really are. Even IF games do make children desensitized to violence doesn’t mean that they won’t think it is still wrong.

  • That Guy

    I disagree with both the author and the senator. As a person who shoots guns, hunts, and plays video games, all one a regular basis, The guns are just a means to an end. Does it make those means easier? Yes, and it would be ignorant and juvenile not to acknowledge that.

    But there is a good deal of responsibility on violence in the media also (whether we talk about games, TV shows, movies, etc.). The reason being that as a person who was raised around guns, I was taught to respect and always follow the four rules (you can look them up as it’s kind of a long list). I think this is a big part of the issue along with other major factors such as mental health and poor guidance/social interaction. There is no responsibility or consequences taught along side displays of violence in entertainment.

    I firmly believe that those who want to hurt others will do so and it would only be a matter of time before the next person comes up with some “innovative” way to hurt and kill a whole lot of others that copy cats will repeat. You only temporarily reduce the violence at best and those who wan to obtain weapons will.

    Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to entertain myself with some Planetside 2 to “kill” some time before I go to get my CHL next weekend.

  • MyTwoCents

    Anyone who is playing a video game and seriously considers shooting up a public place is someone who was going to have that thought one way or another. It comes down to mental health and stress, and making sure those people get the help they need, which they usually don’t, unfortunately.

    Though personally, being Canadian, I don’t really sit well with the thought of living in a place where guns are so accessible and people carry them around regularly.

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar BOBRACHA

    This guy sounds like he feels it’s worth it to forfeit the 1st amendment in favour of the 2nd?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Van-Grungy/100000069253213 Van Grungy

    Support gun-choice for women

    The AR-15 is the choice for women due to simplicity and very low recoil. Also, a 30-round mag is preferable in a situation where one woman may face a crew of 3 or more home invading rapist/burglars

    Why should a woman have to EVER stop aiming at the invaders to change a mag in the heat of the moment?

  • V.

    Many European countries with less gun violence have violent video games, the same problems with mental health (or more), and everything else that could conceivably be blamed for violent crimes. They just have more restrictions on guns.