Here we go again. Robert Dolan, mayor of Melrose, Massachusetts, is launching a new initiative “aimed at persuading families to get rid of their violent video games, movies, and toys by offering coupons to residents who turn in those items at the city yard.”
According to the Boston Globe, under the new initiative, called "New Year — New Direction", those who throw away these "violent" items will receive a coupon sheet in return. These coupons will include deals at local businesses and possibly a "get out of homework free" coupon. That's great, so blame video games for violence and then kill our education system at the same time. This is one of the worst propaganda acts I've ever seen from a politician — enticing kids with no homework for throwing away a video game is disgusting.
“If a family has this discussion and maybe tries to get rid of some of this stuff, they are going to get one of these coupons. The child may be getting rid of something they like, but they are getting some value for it," Dolan tried to reason.
“I’m not saying people shouldn’t have [violent games and toys], but, at least in my house, things have changed since Connecticut,” he added. Once again, I'm shocked and disappointed with how politicians and state representatives are reacting to the shooting in Connecticut. Rather than actually sitting down and look at the big picture, it seems politicians like Dolan would rather find a scapegoat — in this case, video games.
In the same article, it was reported that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has also taken action against "violent" games. Nine "violent" arcade games — including Time Crisis and Beach Head 2000 — have been removed from rest stops in at least four Massachusetts towns.
“Bottom line is I think there isn’t a person who doesn’t believe that there isn’t too much violence in our society, and games can glorify that,” said Transportation Secretary Richard Davey. “A video game in a public space could be used by anybody of any age. At the end of the day, those games are there to entertain kids, probably for a few minutes, while their parents are resting from a long trip. I just think it makes all the sense in the world to have it be a more passive [game].”
I hope Richard Davey isn't caught watching any violent TV shows or movies then, because otherwise he's going to have quite some explaining to do. It's so easy for the older generation to pin the blame on video games because they simply don't understand them. I've said it once and I'll say it again, video games are not the cause of violence. I grew up playing Time Crisis and other so-called "violent" games, and I have no desire to harm anyone else.
News of this Massachusetts initiative comes not long after a small town in Connecticut canceled its plans to collect and destroy "violent" video games.
