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Original poster

To think video games do not cause mass shootings?

108 replies

falonDin · 04/08/2019 19:44

Three shootings in the space on a week. At least one targeted immigrants. The US has a president that is racist, anti-immigrant, very popular on 8-Chan where the shooter put his 'manifesto' and is in the pocket of the NRA. But it's video games that are to blame apparently.

eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/04/el-paso-dayton-mass-shootings-kevin-mccarthy-says-video-games-partly-blame/1915061001/

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5
Screamanger · 05/08/2019 16:11

PancakeAndKeith

3 reasons. Firstly our goal is to be self sufficient in food, that includes hunting our meat. Secondly we live in remote countryside, we are not at the top of the food chain.

Thirdly, we accepted a handgun in trade for a old motorcycle we were trying to sell.

Roussette · 05/08/2019 16:14

Screamanger Are the rifles for hunting wildlife? Why do people need automatic weapons? Surely there should be a ban on what is the equivalent of a machine gun.

This is the picture of the magazine or whatever it's called that the Ohio shooter legally purchased and had when he went on his spree. Why would any sane person need this? Unless they were going into war.

I know we have a simplistic view over here but why can't certain products be banned as 'not necessary'. Surely everyone isn't out in the mountains firing off 100 bullets at wildlife....

Roussette · 05/08/2019 16:14

ooops here is picture

To think video games do not cause mass shootings?
Screamanger · 05/08/2019 16:21

Roussette

Rifles are for hunting turkey, duck and deer, we trade the meat with a neighbor for fish.

There is a misconception of semi automatic firearms, as the majority are. DH hunts with a semi automatic. Google a M1 garand, it’s a WW2 rifle. Not a modern assault rifle.

The image you sent is a beta mag, no real use for hunting because it’s heavy (7ish kg fully loaded)

stayathomer · 05/08/2019 16:22

I don't believe it's games either, but I see how someone with issues can become isolated as a result of gaming and how potentially if they are isolated and without human contact etc, it could possibly potentially lead to violence. Brother has mh issues and gaming joined with an addictive personality led to isolation that helped other mh issues. He's lucky I suppose that he has people about when we can be but I can see how the wrong person in his situation could lash out if they had that personality( he's a lovely caring guy!)

SerendipityJane · 05/08/2019 16:25

Screamanger Are the rifles for hunting wildlife? Why do people need automatic weapons? Surely there should be a ban on what is the equivalent of a machine gun.

Apparently assault weapons are banned. Something Clinton did and which Bush let slip. I have no idea about the ins and outs of it, but it seems it is possible to ban some weapons in the US. Which means the fact others aren't banned makes it more of a lifestyle choice than a necessity.

There was an episode of "Mythbusters" that they had to film outside California, as certain guns aren't legal there either (it was a truck mounted machine gun).

I think the problem is a society whose answer to gun crime is more guns ....

Screamanger · 05/08/2019 16:30

Apparently assault weapons are banned. Something Clinton did and which Bush let slip. I have no idea about the ins and outs of it

Different states have different laws. NY CA and IL have the toughest laws and the highest crime. MA has fairly tough laws too.

SerendipityJane · 05/08/2019 16:33

Different states have different laws. NY CA and IL have the toughest laws and the highest crime. MA has fairly tough laws too.

But we keep hearing how it's "impossible" to ban guns because of the constitution Hmm

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 05/08/2019 16:33

Video games don't cause mass shootings. I'd imagine there isn't a huge difference in what percentage are gamers in the UK/USuA.

However there have been 250+ mass shootings so far this year in the USA and none in the UK. So no. Guns are far more important. And then there's America's violent culture.

But the most important factor in any sort of violence is sex. Male violence is a global epidemic.

Roussette · 05/08/2019 16:38

Thanks Screamanger. I am ignorant on all of it because I just don't get it.

Years ago there was someone on MN who loved guns and he/she continually posted about how we all in the UK should have guns and how ridiculous it was that we didn't. No amount of facts and figures swayed them, they were just adamant it was necessary over here.

I remember Dunblane, I remember Michael Ryan and the Govt taking action and now NZ and Australia and their gun amnesty... hundreds of thousands of guns handed in. Yet in US nothing happens.

Screamanger · 05/08/2019 16:39

But we keep hearing how it's "impossible" to ban guns because of the constitution

.....at a federal level

SerendipityJane · 05/08/2019 16:48

Years ago there was someone on MN who loved guns and he/she continually posted about how we all in the UK should have guns and how ridiculous it was that we didn't. No amount of facts and figures swayed them, they were just adamant it was necessary over here.

However strict our gun laws are, I am sure there is scope for tightening them up. No one ever needs any reason whatsoever to carry a gun anywhere in public, except the police, and vets. There might be some cases for gamekeepers culling stock, and farmers, but that's about it. If you must target shoot then the gun never leaves the range.

Did anyone catch the story about a car stopped coming into the UK today with 150 pistols hidden in it ? The blood runs cold.

PaddyF0dder · 05/08/2019 16:49

The same videogames are available worldwide.

The shootings are an American phenomenon.

The problem is the availability of guns.

Thisandthat1248 · 05/08/2019 16:53

Terrible people + Guns + Bullets = Shootings

You can never get rid of terrible people (they're everywhere) but you could remove the other two elements.

Roussette · 05/08/2019 16:56

Totally agree Serendipidity and the figures speak for themselves and I will link again because it matters....

To think video games do not cause mass shootings?
Pinkout · 05/08/2019 16:57

Guns cause mass shootings. The USA need to stop making bullshit excuses and be proactive about gun laws, they need to accept it has to change. Now.

Aragog · 05/08/2019 17:07

The trouble with the different gun laws across states is that it doesn't really help that much. It is very easy to cross a state line after all. It has to be a national thing, not just state based.

I'm coming to the conclusion though that too many people in the US just don't care enough. They've had so many people killed and injured by guns. They have more mass shootings than pretty much anywhere else. They've had babies killed out shopping, small children killed in infant school and teens killed going about their school day. If that hasn't already made them want to put a stop to it, then what will?!

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 05/08/2019 17:13

As pointed out on the thread that was deleted yesterday a totally change in attitude would have to come about before the stop of gun sales

Obama couldn’t even get through tightening the laws on gun sales (and they were quite minimal) through the senate and this came about after Sandy Hook. After mass shootings the sale of guns always increases

The only comparison I can think of we feel it is a right it to be able to buy property if this was suddenly decided by those in power to be taken away from us - there is no comparison into the dangers of gun ownership but what we feel is it right and is allowed in law and what we would fight to keep

That’s how entrenched it is into American culture - that fact that the easy access to guns and the violence in society is secondary the answer for many people is to arm themselves when they feel under threat - which is alien to most of us outside America

Roussette · 05/08/2019 17:19

for many people is to arm themselves when they feel under threat - which is alien to most of us outside America

But aren't they arming themselves against the Government (as well as other threats of course). Isn't it all to do with being able to form a Militia to fight the Government or something? Which is really alien to us over here

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 05/08/2019 17:24

Relevant tweet

To think video games do not cause mass shootings?
MockerstheFeManist · 05/08/2019 17:27

Most violent video game culture is in Japan, where there is no gun violence in real life. None at all.

GTA depicts the USA, but is made in Edinburgh.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 05/08/2019 17:31

I think many Americans are skeptical of too much Central Government interference

SerendipityJane · 05/08/2019 17:38

The usual quote is something along the lines of:

Q: Why is there a second amendment ?
A: In case the government forgets the first.