As a mom, I feel that violent video games are part of the problem. We are teaching our children that violence is fun and should be enjoyed. My Grandfather served in WW2 and he never recovered from the horrors he had to endure. War is not fun nor should we glorify it to be a walk in the park.

They already have ratings. the problem is the parent that buys it for his /her child and gives them no boundaries. It is a parenting problem, not a game problem. Although, I've seen some and would never let my child play them.

I used to play one of the war games until my family asked me to stop because it was making me more aggressive. It was beccoming addictive and would leave me wound up and aggitated. Not that it does to everyone, but it can have that effect. I worry what it might do to our children. I have since thrown the game away. I thank my family for bringing this to my attention before it was too late.

Shouldn't parents be the ones reviewing and regulating video games at least for those under 18?

In its bizarre and tone deaf response last week to the shootings in Newtown, Conn., the National Rifle Association heaped blame on “vicious, violent video games” for corrupting young Americans and called them the “filthiest form of pornography.” As it turns out, many of those very games have marketing relationships with the makers of firearms and ammunition, which are also big financial supporters of the N.R.A., through deals that appear to be designed to increase sales of their deadly wares.This is nothing more than a diversion put forth by the NRA.

There isn't just one thing to blame for our violent culture. We glorify violence in various forms, from simple spy movies to films like Kill Bill, down to the worst of the horror movies that would shake up anyone's core. Yes, these damage people. Garbage in, garbage out. That doesn't mean it's to blame for mass shootings, but it doesn't help.

I understand that Lanza didn't play the violent video games - but was much more of a sci-fi gamer, so I'm not sure that it plays much into this. I was very interested in the thought, though, that watching violence - either on the news or through movies/games - can help those who can't make a distinction between real/fiction or evaluate consequences to find a "script" or scenario that seems doable to them.

I heard that too Gail. But too much of anything is too much. I had a kid at a school where I worked, that had a supposedly 'good' habit. He read books. Problem is, he did no work, was violent with those who tried to take them away to get his attention. At some point, you had to wonder if he could tell reality from what he was reading. So, he may not even had read something violent, but because he was given no boundaries and balance in his life, he became obsessed to the point of becoming violent with others. Strange how that works. But if this (conn.) kid had autism, you can see where the mom felt that he would always need someone to take care of him, therefore, let him do what he wanted. Bad all the way around.
I allowed my son to play games (some were pretty violent), but I told him that if I saw any personality or behavioral changes, they would go promptly in the trash. I didn't care how much he paid for them. I actually did throw some cd's in the trash when he was 16 (for getting into trouble). He told me that for my information, some of those cd's belonged to his friends. I said, "Well, that'll teach them to loan anything to you knowing what a wacko mother you have" LOL. It's a true story that we laugh about today (He's 27 now).

All video needs to be approved by some kind of governmental rule before placing for sale. There are violent videos that all ages are watching that are giving ideas for crime. Violent gangs are growing by leaps and bounds. This is MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!!! Parents need to take action to take AWAY VIOLENT VIDEOS FROM ALL CHILDREN NOW!!!. Get your children some kind of emotional help to de-program them from violent tendencies.

There are ratings on games for a reason. Games and violent tv are only partially to blame for the problem in society today. The biggest problem is our lack of parenting and trying to be our kids friends and not a parent. We all want our kids to have better lives than what we had, but we are doing it at the risk of what we are seeing today. We failed them and now they are failing us. When they did something wrong we laughed and said oh it's just kids being kids, we only taught them partially right from wrong and when they did something serious they get put in the corner for time out.... WTH do you expect kids to think when they get older, they do not realize this simple fact: "There are real consequences for they're actions" they think Oh Boy i'm going to get put into the corner again... Big deal I could be put in a corner all day and not think twice about it! We removed the death penalty and the murder rate climbs, go figure. I can now kill someone and not worry about them taking my life. I get to go live somewhere warm, get 3 meals a day, get access to one of the greatest health care systems in the world and get a free college education. And you still want to play the "ITS NOT MY FAULT" game or the Government needs to do something... Seriously get your head out of the sand. we created this mess and now we have to live with it.

IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO RAISE OUR KIDS. IT"S OURS

Video games are the new records praising Satan when played backwards. Same hysterical nonsense, different media.

Video games are rated. It's my job as a parent to decide what I feel is appropriate for my children, and to monitor their habits and behavior. I do not need the government telling me (any more than they already do) what I may and may not teach my children. Will they also tell me what my children may and may not read? Perhaps violent books are the problem -- there was a lot of violence in Harry Potter and the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (war and slaughter, oh my -- we should ban them)! My kids enjoy National Geographic specials about violent creatures like dinosaurs and sea creatures. Are they going to grow into damaged teenagers and adults because I allow them to play "Velociraptor Attack" in the living room?

I'm perfectly capable of turning off the television and the computer all by myself, without government interference.

Yeah, it's the video games. Of course it is. Has anybody actually watched the news lately? Much worse than any video game I've ever seen.

Just another way for people to not take responsibility for themselves or theirs.

Truth is, government has no business in this. It's up to me to watch my kid(s) and decide what they will and won't watch. And it's my job to be a parent, not my kids' friend. Just sayin...

Bottm line from all who posted - parental responsibility.

I had to do an argumentative paper on this very topic. I would like to think I am uniquely qualified to speak on this. The research shows that kids were equally aggressive after watching 'wrassling' or violent movies and TV shows. The aggression wasn't enough to cause mass murders, and girls were less aggressive than boys. Like you said Tammy, it all comes down to parental Supervision.

Amy, I'm contemplating going back to school and my papers will be on the subject of social services and abnormal psychology so my mindset is towards finding stuff like this. It's interesting that the aggression didn't last in the testers, but for some reason, builds up in some. That would be an interesting study, to find out why. Try some of these subjects for study. Do some research on "temperaments" in childhood and personalities (also, personality disorders vs psychosis). Do some research on the differences and correlations to environment vs heredity. There, you'll find that the same two people can play the same game the same amount of time etc... and react differently. You'll find a lot of good stuff. I'd be interested in the numbers when you have them. Good luck!
Also, I read something about being able to autopsy and study the brains of mass murders and those that commit thes e types of atrocities. I wonder what's different in their make-up that might help science look for similarities in potential at risk people? It's a thought, for sure.

No doubt the games cause some of the agressive behaviour but has anyone ever paid attention to the TV that they are watching? I believe that TV is the biggest problem.

Bb- you have a point. I've been saying for years that the generation raised on television is a different breed. Think about it. Before tV, what did kids do? They played outside. They interacted with real people and had to solve real conflicts. Even when we did watch violent westerns with shooting and killing, and went to scary movies (I was raised in the 60's and even then they were bloody), we released the effects of our fears in play the next day. We worked it out, so to speak. Today, add tv, movies and violent video games where a kid sits for hours and has no outlet to process what they take in (without the proper amount of play), and wala! They internalize it, and it can come out in a myriad of manifestations. Couple that with lack of discipline and a permissive society and you have a different kid from yesteryear.

So..let's assume that we all agree parenting needs to get better and more involved for most folks....

Still leaves us with the question of "Should the government be involved?" To which I answer emphatically "No!" Still not the government's job. Plus, if we want to properly mess something up, let the government get involved. That'll show us just how NOT to do something....