NYPost: College Killer Crazy for Violent Vid Games
I am perplexed as well at the idea that the killer was spurred to commit this murder from playing video games rather than the stopping of his medication. In fact, not until halfway through the article do they acknowledge this very key element in such an extreme act of insanity. Instead, they choose to label Kazmierczack as a loner obsessed with playing Counter-Strike. I don't understand how a game as popular as this first-person shooter can realistically be interpreted as a legitimate influential factor in committing real-world violence. Fortunately the student witnesses were sensible enough to acknowledge that the game was commonplace in the dorms. However, the NYPost writers chose to neglect this bit of info to misrepresent videogames, as seems to be the trend of the news media today. It's interesting to note that it's usually the traditional forms of journalism that cast a negative perception of videogames, whereas younger types, such as blogs, have grown up with games and show appreciation for the medium. But going back to the issue, drugs definitely need to be given more of a closer look. Virgina Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho and Kazmierczack were both users of anti-depressant medication. Instead, attorney Jack Thompson finds the fact that both shooters played video games to be a more formidable link in explaining why these tragedies have occurred. It is ironic yet sad to see Jack Thompson rejoicing over such a trivial element in the face of such tragedy that so many people must mourn over. Thank you Crecente for actually showing consideration to the victims of this massacre.
Illinois Legislator on NIU Rampage
Time after time, people look to videogames as the primary causes for school shootings. Before games, it was movies and television that were attacked. If videogames are even going to be considered as a probable cause in committing real-world violence, much more attention needs to be paid to the individuals performing these extreme acts and if their minds were stable enough to play games without being affected by their violent imagery. Yes, Seung-Hui Cho and Kazmierczack both played Counter-Strike. However, so do millions of other students to this day. How this is more alarming than the fact that two college students were able to purchase guns with no problem worries me. Furthermore, students on anti-depressant medication. The right for any individual to bear arms is placing more people in danger than videogames. Whether in the form of background checks or mind-stability tests, I think that we need to have greater restrictions or a more challenging process to acquire guns in order to reduce the number of victims that lose their lives to such senseless violence.
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