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Are pixels just pixels? Don't sane gamers know it's not real?
Or should we limit exposure to violence, in a violent world?
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Gov. Christie: "I don't allow Call of Duty in my home" New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about his State of the State address, rebuilding after superstorm Sandy and the new pressure on toughening gun laws. In it he specifically says that violent video games do play a role in encouraging violence, and he doesn't allow his children access to them. |
A WNY veteran who helped in the creation of a video game similar to Modern Warfare says a violent video game does not necessarily lead to a violent person. "I think it depends on the individual playing it, their disposition," says David Bellavia, a WBEN talk host and decorated war veteran. "Parents should decide how comfortable they are with their children playing such games. Bellavia says the military has, at the same time, embraced the games in the culture of war fighting. "The military sees (these games) as a plus," notes Bellavia. He adds the games also help in treating post traumatic stress. "It's sick to say, but it helps by putting people back into that environment and use those games as a form of treatment," explains Bellavia. "It's a way of reminding those soldiers the violence they're experiencing in this game is not real anymore." |
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Exclusive WBEN Audio On The WBEN Liveline |
SSgt. David Bellavia (US Army Ret'd)
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CBS White House Correspondent Peter Maer
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Psychologist John Northman |
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A violent video game buyback scheduled for this weekend has been canceled despite a huge show of support. "It was truly an avalanche," said Dick Fortunato of Southington Ct. An organization called "Southington Offers Services" was going to give out gift certificates to batting cages or bowling alleys to any family who wanted to turn in their violent video game. "What we didn't expect was emails from Germany, U.K.....Paris, Bermuda, very supportive," said Fortunato.
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 Vice President Joe Biden, with Attorney General Eric Holder at left, speaks during a meeting with victim's groups and gun safety organizations Wednesday. Biden is holding a series of meetings this week as part of the effort he is leading to develop policy proposals in response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) |
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One day after meeting with the entertainment industry, The Obama administration is sitting down with gun owners groups -- including the National Rifle Association -- as officials look at ways to curb gun violence.
Vice President Biden, who is leading an administration-wide review of gun safety laws, has vowed urgent action in the wake of last month's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.
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 A leading entertainment industry trade organization has asked Biden to not investigate the linkage between movies, video games and real-life violence.The Entertainment Merchants Association, which represents the home entertainment industry, says numerous studies have debunked the theory that violent media makes people violent in real life. The organization sent Biden a letter that explains the video game industry's ratings system, details previous court cases that upheld the constitutionality of violent games as free speech and highlights a "multitude" of studies which it says have a "de minimis impact on real-world violence."
"EMA was sad — but not surprised — to see some blame gun massacres like the Newtown shooting on video games, motion pictures and other forms of entertainment that contain depictions of violence," the letter says. "Make no mistake: blaming movies and video games is an attempt to distract the attention of the public and the media form meaningful action that will keep our children safer." |
The meeting with the NRA is one of three Biden has scheduled for Thursday, as he prepares to make recommendations on gun policy by the end of the month. Besides the NRA, Biden and other officials are meeting with sportsmen and wildlife interest groups, as well as people from the entertainment industry.
The NRA, the nation's largest gun-rights group, has blocked gun control efforts in the past and is opposing any new ones.
Shortly after last month's shooting in Newtown, Conn., President Obama tasked Biden with heading a commission to come up with recommendations on gun policy by the end of January.
Mr. Obama supports steps including reinstating a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and closing loopholes that enable many gun buyers to avoid background checks.
Senior administration officials tell CBS News the president is likely to unveil his ideas to reduce gun violence next week. He will also push his gun control agenda in his State of the Union address next month.
Biden, who met with representatives of victims groups and gun-safety organizations Wednesday, said officials are considering steps that could "take thousands of people out of harm's way" and improve the safety of millions more.
"I want to make it clear that we are not going to get caught up in the notion that unless we can do everything, we're going to do nothing," Biden told groups including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "It's critically important we act."
Biden faces a tougher audience when the NRA joins other gun-owner groups and retailers, including Wal-Mart. The group's executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, has dismissed the assault weapons ban as "a phony piece of legislation" and has recommended putting armed guards in all schools as a way to stop another school shooting.
In a radio interview late Tuesday night, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Plante, NRA President David Keene lashed out at both Mr. Obama and Biden, saying, "I think they're being disingenuous. I think that they see this as an opportunity to go after the Second Amendment, which they've wanted to do for years, if not decades, and I think they're going to do everything they can to strip Americans of their right to keep and bear arms."
Biden said he wanted to hear from "all parties, on whatever side of this debate you fall."
In a nod to political realities that could imperil sweeping gun-control legislation, Biden said the administration is weighing executive action in addition to recommending legislation by Congress.
Recommendations to the Biden group include making gun-trafficking a felony, getting the Justice Department to prosecute people caught lying on gun background-check forms and ordering federal agencies to send data to the National Gun Background Check Database.
The Brady Campaign says some 40 percent of gun sales are made without background checks, such as at gun shows and over the Internet.
The shootings in Newtown, in which 20 children and six adults were killed by a man with a military-style semiautomatic rifle, have prodded the administration to act. Mr. Obama had remained largely silent on gun control after the 2011 shootings in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six people and wounded 12 others, including then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and the Colorado movie theater killing of a dozen people and wounding of many more last July.
Biden, referring to the Newtown shootings, said at the White House, "Every once in a while, there's something that awakens the conscience of the country, and that tragic event did it in a way like nothing I've seen in my career."
Biden said he and Mr. Obama are determined to take action.
"We can affect the well-being of millions of Americans and take thousands of people out of harm's way if we act responsibly," he said.
The president hopes to announce his administration's next steps to tackle gun violence shortly after he is sworn in for a second term.