The issue of whether violent video games lead to violent crimes is revisited. Sounds of war are coming from a child's bedroom. Joy, triumph, elation, or defeat. Starting over. Passing levels, being alone, or playing along with up to one hundred and fifty players. Video games have a large part in a young man's world. Choosing weapons, killing the enemy. The only way to win in these realistic, deadly games is to kill. You must kill everyone else or be killed yourself. The games are so realistic that there is blood. Lots of blood! It seems that games of war are marketed along with the use of AR-15 weapons.. These weapons are modified and used in Star Wars games, and the most popular is Call of Duty. The age range for Call of Duty is 18 and older. They are available for Play Station and other gaming devices, but also available to download in an app store for use on a cell phone.
https://natterhub.com/blog/call-of-duty-a-parents-guide Over the years when a violent mass shooting occurs, the connection between video games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops has been noted as the possible cause of the violent act being committed. There has long been a connection between video games and gun violence. The Columbine shooters were adamant gamers playing the game Doom. The Parkland High school shooter was playing video games with his brother when he made a statement, saying he wanted to go and shoot up a school. His brother didn't take him seriously. He thought he was just spouting off while playing the game.
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MSDHS/Meetings/November-Meeting-Documents/Nov-13-145pm-Cruz-Behavior-Chris-Lyons.aspx Parkland: Nikolas Cruz spent long hours playing violent video games, according to a friend. He was an unpopular kid who suffered from depression.
https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/10/17101232/a-brief-history-of-video-game-violence-blame A frequent YouTube blogger reported a comment on his site."I'm going to be a professional school shooter," the post read. The poster's name: "Nikolas Cruz."
https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/10/17101232/a-brief-history-of-video-game-violence-blame In the recent shooting at the Tops Supermarket, the racist shooter was a troubled young man, hanging out at the video game site Discord. He planned to shoot up a school or a church, but then determined that he could kill more people if he shot at a grocery store.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/15/us/payton-gendron-buffalo-shooting-suspect-what-we-know/index.htm The Uvalde shooter played violent video games with friends. He was obsessed with the AR-15 rifle. He even asked his sister to buy a gun for him, before he turned 18, but she refused.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/05/25/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-gunman/ The AR-15 riffle is marketed to young men through ads helping them to 'claim their man card.'
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20220531-daniel-defense-the-us-gunmaker-notorious-for-aggressive-marketing-to-young-adults According to USA Today, President Donald Trump, and other lawmakers called out violent video games as potential factors in shootings. On Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." When House Minority Leader Kevin McCarty, R-California was asked about factors contributing to a shooting, he said that video games can "dehumanize individuals."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/08/05/do-violent-video-games-really-drive-people-commit-mass-shootings/1924128001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/04/el-paso-dayton-mass-shootings-kevin-mccarthy-says-video-games-partly-blame/1915061001/ Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said that the El Paso shooter mentioned the popular shooting game "Call of Duty" in a manifesto. "I see a video game industry that teaches young people to kill."
https://www.statista.com/statistics/321374/global-all-time-unit-sales-call-of-duty-games/ over thirty million games sold per year. This issue of violence and video games has been explored again and again. No concrete conclusion has been reached; however, a ruling was made in California where they attempted to ban violent video games and that was ruled unconstitutional under the first amendment. What can a parent do? Being a parent there are many avenues you can take regarding violent video games. These games can be downloaded onto any phone. If your son or daughter wants to play such games, it is really up to the parent. Should a parent allow this? • Parents are most likely paying for a child's the cell phone, so they don't have to allow this game to be downloaded • Parents pay the electric bill so they can decide where the electrical power is used, will they allow this game to be used on an X-box or Play station by a twelve-year-old? • Even if a parent has allowed this game into their home, it isn't too late for a parent to change their mind. • Make sure to have conversations with a kid while making eye contact. Ask them how they feel about violent video games. • Find out if they are obsessed with guns or killing? • A parent can limit the time a kid spends playing video games • Encourage other activities such as sports, scouting, or church group activities • Parents like to please their children. But if they are asking for a violent video game, a parent can make sure they know what this game involves before allowing a child to play an adult game. • A parent can take away a cell phone, and not allow video games on family outings, road trips, or bonding times. • As a last resort: A parent can turn off the internet, remove a bedroom door to monitor what goes on in the bedroom, or even flip a switch on a power box.