Backed into a corner, the National Rifle Assocation did exactly what we thought they would, try to place the blame of recent acts of violence on video games and other "violent entertainment."
Searching for some sort of scapegoat during the today's press conference, NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre blamed video games like Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat as the cause for tragedies like the one that recently occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School. LaPierre described these games as "vicious" and "violent."
"There exists in this country a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells, and sows, violence against its own people," LaPierre argued. I guess when the heat is on you look to shift the blame somewhere else. I can't say that I didn't already see this coming.
He didn't stop with the blockbuster titles either. LaPierre also brought up a game titled KinderGarten Killer, a first-person shooter flash game that instructs the player to "shoot the kids quickly before they shoot you." The game, which has been online for 10 years, arms the player with a shotgun and encourages them to aim for the heads of small children also wielding guns. Obviously it was the perfect target for LaPierre's argument, but can we really blame the entire video game industry for violence? It seemed more like an act of desperation on the part of the NRA.
"Isn't fantasizing about killing people as a way to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography," LaPierre tried to argue. Interesting because throughout my years of video game playing and pornography watching I have not once been tempted to go out and shoot someone.
The NRA's response comes not long after U.S. Senator and NRA-supporter Joe Manchin suggested the possible banning of Grand Theft Auto.
Saddle up gamers. Looks like it's us versus the NRA.
