Trump Vows to ‘Do Something’ about Violent Video Games

What’s the story?

• In the wake of the mass shooting in Parkland, FL, that left 17 dead, President Donald Trump said Congress must "do something" about violent video games:

"I’m hearing more and more people say the level of violence on video games is really shaping young people’s thoughts."

Why are video games being blamed?

• A neighbor of alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz told The Miami Herald that the 19-year-old played violent video games for up to 15 hours a day.

What are politicians saying?

• Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin (R) said violent games "celebrated death [and] the slaughter of people."

"They have desensitized people to the value of human life, to the dignity of women, to the dignity of human decency. We're reaping what we've sown here," Bevin said.

Aren’t video games regulated?

• Video games carry age restrictions and are subjected to a rigorous certification process.

What does the research say?

• Research has shown that countries that spend the most on video games have lower gun-related murder rates than the U.S.

• The New York Times explained: "In Japan, about 60 percent of the population played video games in 2016, according to NewZoo, a gaming market research company. But almost no one is killed by a gun in the country, which bans possessing, carrying, selling, or buying handguns or rifles."

• The American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics both warn against children and teens playing violent video games.

• A few studies have found that playing violent video games makes players more aggressive—but the aggression quickly wears off.

What does the Supreme Court say?

• SCOTUS rejected the argument that video games cause violence in 2011, with Justice Antonin Scalia writing:

"Psychological studies purporting to show a connection between exposure to violent video games and harmful effects on children do not prove that such exposure causes minors to act aggressively. Any demonstrated effects are both small and indistinguishable from effects produced by other media."

What do you think?

Do violent video games cause violent behavior? Should there be additional regulations placed on them? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

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—Josh Herman

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