Posted Apr 06, 2008 at 06:47AM by Jay P. Listed in: Opinions & Analysis Tags: Rampage, Virginia, Counter-Strike
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Stephen King takes a stand on video game violence - Image 1Violent video games are really taking the heat, especially from legislators. It seems that countless numbers of bills are filed one after another to curb its effects on society, especially on the innocent.

Since it's one pressing matter, horror author Stephen King finally has spoken his mind regarding it. As for the house bill that was legislated by Massachusetts that will regard violent games as porn, King remains doubtful that it will remain as a law.

As for the whole hubbub happening with the nation and violent video games, King had a mouthful to say about it. He said:

What really makes me insane is how eager politicians are to use the pop culture — not just videogames but TV, movies, even Harry Potter — as a whipping boy. It's easy for them, even sort of fun, because the pop-cult always hollers nice and loud. Also, it allows legislators to ignore the elephants in the living room.


Elephant One is the ever-deepening divide between the haves and have-nots in this country, a situation guys like Fiddy and Snoop have been indirectly rapping about for years. Elephant Two is America's almost pathological love of guns.


It was too easy for critics to claim — falsely, it turned out — that Cho Seung-Hui (the Virginia Tech killer) was a fan of Counter-Strike; I just wish to God that legislators were as eager to point out that this nutball had no problem obtaining a 9mm semiautomatic handgun.


Cho used it in a rampage that resulted in the murder of 32 people. If he'd been stuck with nothing but a plastic videogame gun, he wouldn't even have been able to kill himself. Case closed.


Well said, Stephen. How 'bout you guys? Got anything to say on the matter? We're sure you have a lot, too. Join in the discussion over at the comments section.

[Via Entertainment Weekly] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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