President Obama Announces New Research into Game Related Violence

[Shawn Zipay]

Earlier today, President Barack Obama held a press conference in which gun violence and the plans to fight it were discussed. Included in the 23 executive orders signed today was a push for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to look into the causes of violent behavior. This includes violent media such as movies, television, and video games.

"We don’t benefit from ignorance. We don’t benefit from not knowing the science of this epidemic of violence," Obama said. "Congress should fund research into the effects violent video games have on young minds.

"As important as these steps are, they are in no way a substitute for action from Congress."

The order specifically reads: "Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence."

Obama is looking for Congress to allocate $10 million towards the study of violent media. This goes hand in hand with other executive orders made today that requires universal background checks on firearm purchases, limits on assault weapons, and 10-round maximum on ammo.

As Venture Beat also points out, a June 2011 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court said that video games are protected speech. Thus, any legislation that limits games would be ruled unconstitutional. This "puts the burden of proof on those who claim games cause violent or criminal outbursts."

[CptainCrunch]

Im all for it. In the end, its still declared by the Supreme Court and they would need to overturn their own ruling, which they dont like to do and is very difficult to get to that point to begin with.

Also, there has already been a ton of studies and none that I am aware of has shown someone becoming violent.

In the end, I think these studies will show what we all have known to begin with; That they do not cause violence, but improve hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills while drawing out some emotion for the moment.

Also, this order is a bit vague. I hope they will also do a study on gun violence related to poverty in urban areas, the family culture, as well as the effects of anti-depressant and ADD style drugs on persons brain. (Also a lot of studies on those as well)

[Stev0esque]

The cracked Article on "the truth behind Guns and Videogames" (Short version: Blaming either isn't solving anything) I read yesterday (or the day before, Lost track of time) put a good point which I can agree with (though makes me sound like I'm crazy at first): Yes there is a link, but its not causation. Its Correlation. Violent people will flock to Videogames or other violent media but it isn't giving them the ideas, its just an indulgence they take.

[cikame]

Sounds like a good use of $10 million.

Sorry mental health, your funding will have to wait

[CptainCrunch]

@Stevo, you're exactly right. Its why we don't ban cars and airplanes. They crash because of an error, but the item themselves do not do something.

It's like all the shooters in the last 15 years have been on medication. Blaming the meds that work for 99% of the people isnt the entire issue. Maybe a different med is needed or maybe some people can't be "fixed".

@cikame; What is sad is there probably isn't going to be any mental health funding. No one can stop focusing on banning assault weapons and magazines and looking for that link with video games. It is what happened in the past; they ban something then sit back and watch it happen again so they ban it again or ban something else. Then they keep scratching their heads wondering why crime is still going on even though they made it illegal.

[Shawn Zipay]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/16/169555027/faa-grounds-all-787-planes-in-the-u-s-to-seek-a-fix-for-battery-issue

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blfirestone.htm

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/toyota-hold-worlds-biggest-car-recall-16-years-1C6374378

[CptainCrunch]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...-battery-issue

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blfirestone.htm

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/toyo...ears-1C6374378

Come on Zips, those are recalls and safety issues. Did they ground the perfectly working planes too? Once they are fixed they are back in business. The 787 will be back in the air after the fix on the batteries. Theyre not banned forever.

[Shawn Zipay]

You said, "They crash because of an error, but the item themselves do not do something."

I merely provided a few links showing that's not always the case.

[CptainCrunch]

I see your point and though technically valid, the items are not being banned because they are working fine or because someone abused them.

Now there are some drugs banned because of abuse. Youre practically treated like a criminal if you want sudafed.