Skip to main content

Video games are more dangerous than guns, claims Tennessee Senator

TN Senator Lamar Alexander
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since the December 14 shootings in Newtown, CT, there has been a steady procession of politicians attempt to offer their own solution to the issue of gun violence in America. On one side, you have those who blame the ubiquity of firearms in America for these too-frequent shootings, while on the other you have those who claim that all of this rampant violence is actually a symptom of our society’s moral decay caused by the increasing prevalence of violence in the media we consume each day. The Obama administration, bolstered by rare bipartisan support, has decided that further clinical studies need to take place before a definitive culprit can be named. Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander however, claims to know exactly what motivates these attacks.

“I think video games is a bigger problem than guns because video games affect people,” Lamar said during an interview with NBC News (video below). “But the First Amendment limits what we can do about video games and the Second Amendment to the Constitution limits what we can do about guns.”

Senator Alexander’s words come as a shock, not because it’s odd to see a Republican Senator support gun ownership to the detriment of less politically advantageous industries, but instead because Alexander was asked for his thoughts on newly-proposed measures that would institute universal background checks for prospective gun buyers, among other things. Prior to Alexander’s statement, video games had not been part of the discussion, yet the Senator is currently taking fire from people around the globe for ostensibly claiming that Halo 4 is more hazardous to our society than an AK-47.

To play devil’s advocate for a moment though, maybe this isn’t what Senator Alexander had intended. He may have misspoke and certainly could have phrased his words a bit better, but based on that second sentence it seems that Alexander was merely pointing out that both guns and video games are protected under the US Constitution. It’s very difficult to drastically change the existing laws as they apply to either industry, even for Senators, so this seems a simple enough attempt to explain to NBC News’ viewers that any resolution to be found in this issue will take a long, long time and much debate.

Even if this is the case though, Alexander’s response to NBC News’ line of questioning feels like little more than a misdirection. He was asked a direct question and immediately shifted the blame in a direction that has been gaining plenty of media coverage. As a politician you’d expect Alexander to appeal to those whom he hopes will reelect him, but instead of pushing wholehearted support for the universal background check concept – an idea that a recent Johns Hopkins University survey claims is supported by a majority of Americans, including 75 percent of respondents who identify themselves as members of the National Rifle Association – he instead directs the conversation to focus on media violence. Why? Tennessee, the state that Alexander represents has long had very liberal laws on how, when, and to whom guns can be sold. At the moment it’s entirely legal to own an unregistered “assault weapon” in the state, and the authorities won’t even bother you to license and register the firearm. Were these new measures to pass, Alexander and his colleagues in the Tennessee government would have a lot of work to do and would likely need to step on the toes of their supporters. Is it any wonder then that he’d change the subject to something that he has little vested interest in? Something like violence in games?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Earnest Cavalli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Earnest Cavalli has been writing about games, tech and digital culture since 2005 for outlets including Wired, Joystiq…
What is dragonsplague in Dragon’s Dogma 2 and how is it cured?
A dragon roars in Dragon's Dogma 2.

Dragon's Dogma 2 likes to keep many of its mechanics and systems a secret until you discover them. You will learn quickly that you can't fast travel around the map freely, but there's one mechanic that is far more detrimental to your game. This is called dragonsplague and it is a disease that can't be cured with a simple tonic. In fact, you may not even realize if you have it in your game because it isn't something that affects your character at all; instead, it affects your Pawns. Failing to recognize you have dragonsplague and deal with it in a timely manner can ruin your entire playthrough if you're not careful. To avoid such a catastrophe, here are all the details about this cruel disease.
What is dragonsplague?

Dragonsplague is a special kind of disease that Pawns can contract seemingly by interacting with either Drakes or Dragons. That part isn't fully clear yet, however, we do know that Pawns with dragonsplague can spread the disease to other Pawns. Since Pawns are able to pass between worlds to join other players, you are never fully safe from being infected if you're playing online. Unlike a real sickness, though, dragonsplague actually transfers between Pawns rather than spreads, meaning it won't fully run rampant through the game.

Read more
Stellar Blade feels more like a Soulslike than a fast-paced action RPG
Stellar Blade STALKER fight.

 

Korean developer Shift Up first made a name for itself with mobile games like 2016’s Destiny Child, a turn-based RPG, and 2022’s Goddess of Victory: Nikke, an on-rails third-person shooter. Now, Shift Up is throwing its hat into the ring of AAA game development with Stellar Blade, an action game starring a young woman named Eve who is trying to reclaim Earth from an invading alien species. The developer’s first attempt at crafting a premium console experience is already much stronger than I expected.

Read more
Get 15% off this extremely comfortable Razer gaming chair
Razer - Iskur Gaming Chair.

If you want an extremely comfortable experience while you're playing your favorite video games, you should set aside some cash to invest in a quality gaming chair. Here's a premium option that you wouldn't regret buying -- the Razer Iskur gaming chair, which is on sale from Razer with a 15% discount that pulls its price down to just $510 from $600. There's no telling how much time is remaining before the savings of $90 get taken down though, so if you're interested in this bargain, you're going to have to complete your purchase right away.

Why you should buy the Razer Iskur gaming chair
The Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair is now available, but the first model, the Razer Iskur gaming chair, remains a worthwhile purchase today. Its ergonomic design features a built-in, fully adjustable lumbar curve that supports your spine, instead of other gaming chairs' lumbar pillows that shift over time, as well as a memory foam head cushion. The Razer Iskur gaming chair is also wrapped in multi-layered synthetic leather that's not only tougher than the standard PU leather, but also more comfortable, and its high-density foam cushions that mold to your body shape while still providing the proper support.

Read more