Should extremely violent video games be legal?

Question

"Kimveer Gill, 25, of Laval, near Montreal" shot over 20 people leaving one dead and many in very critical condition. Apparently one of his favorite video games was called ""Super Columbine Massacre," an Internet-based computer game that simulated the April 20, 1999, shootings at the Colorado high school by two of its students that left 12 classmates and one teacher dead."

I don't know about you guys but I think we have gone a little two far with our freedoms. It should have been intuitively obvious with a title like this it should have been banned if no other reason but respect for the victims.

However we still are in dire need of some rational and balanced laws, not laws that are polarized to cater to one particular ideal at all costs. If reality does not respond positively to our laws or lack of them then logically we need to adjust them appropriately.

mistypa12..., that's all fine and dandy but the clear fact is many parents are not parenting and we also live in an age were extremely dangerous weapons are relatively readily available. Considering these two facts we need to do something to curb the violence. It is just not acceptable to have to live in a society where periodic mass killings take place.

quickblur, good point but I bet you never played super columbine massacre.

I can understand some people's objections but come on in the least we need to ban the games that explicitedly put the player in the role of being a mass murderer. It's one thing to play the hero but it quite the other to play the glorified villian.

makingapo..., you are right, many things have changed. The tools for destruction have become more dangerous and easily obtainable, as well as social structures that helped keep our youth wholesome have been undermined for several reasons that I will not go into at the moment. But when things change we must be flexible enough to change else there will be more suffering and death.

Answer 1

While I have not actually played it I have read what others have said about it. I agree with your comment about banning the game SCMRPG, if for no other reason than out of simple, genuine respect for the victims. When do we agree to make something “hands off”? Advocates for “taking personal responsibility” have a good point, as well as those who would legislate protection of ourselves from ourselves, but we can still only do so much, or go so far, to make this a worlable reality. Achieving balance between these views is a very murky, grey area. In view of these tragedies, both Columbine and Montreal, and as they relate - or have mentioned a relation - to violent video games, I’m almost afraid to ask, is there a “WTC-Knock ‘em Down!” video game in our future? Where do we, as a civil society, draw the line? As my British friends would say; It’s a very sticky wicket!

In my opinion the world is becoming a more dangerous place every day, and while it’s an accepted fact that no place can be 100% safe, it appears to me most places will, sooner or later, become clearly un-safe. If and when that happens I’m sure we will debate over our choices to deal with it. I know 9/11 has changed my life and I was not directly, nor personally involved in the tragady. I was shocked and numbed by it. I’m sure Columbine and Montreal were life altering events as well. I also see this change in my family and, unfortunately, these changes are not at all good! The fear accompanied with going to a simple football game, once a favorite family outing, becomes an “issue” to deal with and give serious pause. We still go but we don’t seem to enjoy it as much. Maybe the problem is, to my way of thinking, humanity has simply arrived at a place where we just can’t have any fun. In a perfect world we might all just get along, however, we don’t live in a perfect world.

Answer 2

First off, I'd like to give my condolences to anyone from Canada for what happened yesterday.

I'm from Colorado, so Columbine was a pretty big deal there, but I think the violent videogames only have a very small role in how kids turn out. My friends and I play some pretty violents stuff all the time and we're all generally good guys. But than there are kids I knew who never touched a game and they were just violent and mean. I think parenting is the most important.

Answer 3

How many excuses are these people going to use for the crimes they commit? Video games gave me the idea, I have a mental disorder. How about people take responsibility for their own actions?

If you don't like these video games, don't buy them and if you feel that stongly about it don't associate with people who play them. That is your right just as much as it is my right to buy those games.

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These game creators should have more respect and responsibility, but they don't. If we start to ban things because they bother some people, where do we draw the line? Should I have the right to ban things because I don't like it or think it's appropriate? No. What I can do, though, is teach my son and future children that these things are bad. Parents are the most influential teacher a child will ever have. If we all took on the responsibility of parenting seriously, then there wouldn't be a market for these types of games.

Answer 4

I think that violent games should be illegal and have always thought that. In Louisiana there was actually a motion to ban them but it was shot down by the Supreme Court. Sometimes our laws really do need to change from the original Constitution.
I doubt seriously if our founders would have imagined that there would be video games in our future. One could argue that the guy doing the shooting was old enough to distinguish that the game was not a reality, but you never know what is going on in their heads. My stepson plays all these games and actually dresses like the characters because he thinks they are cool, NOT!!

Answer 5

Parents should police their children not the goverment. People need to step up and take responsibility for raising their children. Too many people think the goverment should police every aspects of our lives, it is a free country and it should stay that way. We should teach out children respect and they wouldn't play these games. There is no easy answer, but we need to watch our own surrounding and be aware of evil people like this.

Answer 6

YES WE SHOULD BAN THEM
To the voter who said " Hell No " why not ?
It's disgusting that they got away with making a game that was based on someones misery . and no thought for the families pain .just how their stupid bank accounts would grow ......and now look whats happened .
Irresponsible makers of the games particularly THIS GAME .should pay compensation to all the victims in Canada AND a hefty compensation to the families of those who died.
AND on top of that, pay the families of the columbine massacre, for using their families pain for monetary gain.
Did you know he copycatted EVERYTHING those 2 boys at columbine did ~ even to letting one guy go free.
I'm from Canada ..I'm disgusted that Video makers get away with so many violent games ....life IS NOT a video game, Pay up manufacturers this is YOUR fault . Own up to your part in it.
Games should be over $1000 each that are of this genre, also ID should be taken and recorded of everyone that buys such a game.
Dont sniff to me about your rights and freedom of speech, you need ID for lots of things.... get used to it. ...If you are of this nature that you like such violence in these games , then I guess it's time to pay up. See how much you like your games of violence if they cost $1000 each ....hmmmm !!!!

Answer 7

How about stopping the uncontrolled distribution of guns?

I feel it is ironinc to drive a vehicle on the street, or to fish you need a license, but to buy firearms many societies place very few restrictions. The only justifiable purpose of an assault rifle is to kill in defense of the innocent and in a civilized society that job should be left to the law and order agencies and the military.

Answer 8

I think it was wrong for the game to be based on the Columbine shootings. I have to admit, some of the other shooting games are fun, but with school shootings being such a serious issue, that should be off limits.

Answer 9

no adults should be able to buy what they want, adults should supervise their kids and not worry about the government banning things, too many parents dont want to be parents, they want a tv, a video game or me to take care of them

Answer 10

I like the fact that the United States gives us freedom, but i don't like the idea that freedom brings so much negativity and basicaly kills our people.