In case you were not aware, on Thursday President Donald Trump had an hour-long meeting with Congressional leaders and video game industry leaders behind closed doors in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. Attendees included company representatives from Bethesda, Take-Two, Rockstar, and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), as well as critics of violent media from the Parents Television Council (PTC), Media Research Council (MRC), Representative Vicky Hartzler, a Republican Congresswoman from Missouri, among others. The meeting, which the White House describes as one of many with the game industry and other stakeholders in a national discussion surrounding school shootings, was closed to the press. However, some of the attendees revealed what went down in post-meeting statements and press interviews.

The meeting kicked-off with the screening of the following 88-second video that depicts violent scenes from game franchises like Call of Duty, Sniper Elite, and Fallout:

Unlisted video from The White House’s YouTube channel​

Following the footage Rep. Hartzler said that the president would ask, “This is violent isn’t it?”, asking for comments and thoughts among those present.

"I think for many of us there, there was a shocked silence," Melissa Henson, a spokesperson for the PTC, said during a press call following the meeting. "Those from the video game industry were quick to defend [the video games] saying they were meant for a mature audience and that they weren't intended for kids to see."

“I think he’s deeply disturbed by some of the things you see in these video games that are so darn violent, viciously violent, and clearly inappropriate for children, and I think he’s bothered by that,” said Brent Bozell of the MRC.

In a press statement following the meeting, the White House added that “the President acknowledged some studies have indicated there is a correlation between video game violence and real violence. The conversation centered on whether violent video games, including games that graphically simulate killing, desensitize our community to violence.”

It is not the first time that President Trump made a connection between violence in video games and real violence. He has been quite vocal about his thoughts on the matter in the past...

Video game violence & glorification must be stopped—it is creating monsters!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2012

​

... even if studies showed no correlation between the two, as the ESA pointed out: "We discussed the numerous scientific studies establishing that there is no connection between video games and violence, First Amendment protection of video games, and how our industry’s rating system effectively helps parents make informed entertainment choices."

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who was also at the meeting, also acknowledged that there is no evidence linking violent video games to the tragedy in Parkland. But he said he wanted to ensure “parents are aware of the resources available to them to monitor and control the entertainment their children are exposed to.”

"The tone of the meeting was that it was for information gathering, fact finding," the PTC's Melissa Henson said. "I don't believe anyone came in there with a policy outcome in mind. The President was not walking in there with his mind already made up. I am under the impression there will be future conversations, though no next steps were discussed."

___________________________________________​

While nothing consequential went down during this specific meeting, similar ones are bound to happen, especially in the wake of increasing reports of public violence. Decisions might then be made that will have a heavy impact on the video game industry.

Views are highly divided regarding the issue of violence and video games. This will probably remain the case in the foreseeable future until a consensus is met, however unlikely that may be. But what do you think? Is there a correlation? Are there any changes that need to be made within the video game industry that can help to curb real-world violence?

 

[Xzi]

I don't like Trump either, but we've had far worse Presidents, by a long shot.

I don't disagree, but I'd say he's a shoe-in for the top ten worst at least. Especially by the time he leaves office, when everybody realizes he was nothing but Putin's useful stooge.

 

[Tigran]

Oh yeah. The Old Testament God routinely racked up body counts that'd put even the most dedicated COD players to shame. I'd have to look it up but I recall him offing a million people in a single act, to say nothing of how many the Flood might have killed.

Then there's something in Psalms {137:9} about "Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."

That's pretty f'd up. I don't know of any games that involve smashing kids to death against rocks. Maybe some indie game or mods but very few if any.

You forgot the "ripping the wombs from women."

Or the plagues that killed innocent people because he set it up so that the pharaoh wouldn't accept the deals.. in order to put out the plagues.

 

[Xabring]

Whether or not parents aren't be responsible, the government has no right (or any government) to parent children for them. It's not their job to control what other people do, it's just an excuse to let people not be responsible.

No. People kill people. A gun can't get up on it's own and shoot someone. Just like a fork can't get up and make someone overweight.

People are singling out video games, when violence is everywhere. Tv shows, movies, books, the news, even flipping billboards these days. It's not just video games that desensitize people. They might be a part of it, but they're not the sole reason. If your going to go after video games for being too violent, than you also have to go after everything else.

How is it not having them informed? It's a matter of the parents not understanding or not caring about their child playing gory violent games. Which games like cod that are known to have a lot of children playing has blatantly shown right on the box.
View attachment 117016 View attachment 117017

Also, I just have to say this.

Parents: "Oh no, the games are making our children violent."
*Try's to fight the game industry while continuing to let their child play whatever the fuck they want on the ps4 s, xbox1 s, & switche s.*

Apathy IS the true source of all this. This hate stuff is just result of this apathy.
What we can learn from this? If you have children, CARE about them, don't just HAVE them.

But when do mankind learn?

 

[Subtle Demise]

Video games, much like TV and movies and music have actually become much more conservative in recent years. Not sure why, but I think it's just an attempt to cash on a wider audience. Just look at the Borderlands series: in the first one, your opponents would burn to death, lose limbs, get corroded by acid, among other things in gruesome detail. Now the sequel (and pre-sequel) comes along and tones all of that way down. Even as early as the early 2000s, the remake of Conker's Bad Fur Day, Live and Reloaded, actually censored more of the script than the N64 original. In the US, television has more words censored than in years past and far more than what's even legally necessary. I have seen shows where the word "ass" was bleeped out.

To make it short, this was totally unnecessary and a waste of everyone's time. The game industry has been regulating itself for many years now without issue, until some bozo comes along and decides they need more federal power to control one of the few facets of life we still have freedom over. And the gamers were worried about Hillary, lmfao.

 

[Navonod]

Apathy IS the true source of all this. This hate stuff is just result of this apathy.
What we can learn from this? If you have children, CARE about them, don't just HAVE them.

But when do mankind learn?

People wont learn. This is going to cycle for a million more generations before everyone starts owning up to their own mistakes.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

No. People kill people. A gun can't get up on it's own and shoot someone. Just like a fork can't get up and make someone overweight.

If you're going to do the tired old "gun to fork/spoon" analogy, at least make it proper... If one were to do a proper comparison between the two, a fork would be equivalent to a bullet, and the gun itself would be equivalent to a deep fryer

 

[Navonod]

If you're going to do the tired old "gun to fork/spoon" analogy, at least make it proper... If one were to do a proper comparison between the two, a fork would be equivalent to a bullet, and the gun itself would be equivalent to a deep fryer

Fine. A nail gun then?

 

[austin5623]

In my state, The Hunger Games is required reading for 8th grade. A book where 24 people are put into an arena to kill each other (and if you haven't read the book, which just about everyone has, it doesn't hold out on details of the deaths) and two people make it back. Other books like The Red Kayak where a teenager's two friends drill holes into the bottom of a (you guessed it) a red kayak as a cruel joke, but they kill a 3 year old boy and cause his mother to have horrible depression afterwards. Once again, required reading.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Fine a nail gun then?

I mean, if you want to go with a direct comparison, I guess. But a) a nail gun has a range limited to how far the hose reaches from an air compressor, and b) the primary purpose of a nail gun is to drive nails into a construction project, and they are typically only given to people who are qualified and understand the impact (ba dum tss) of what happens between the wall/project and their trigger finger (i.e. don't point it at people)

 

[Navonod]

I mean, if you want to go with a direct comparison, I guess. But a) a nail gun has a range limited to how far the hose reaches from an air compressor, and b) the primary purpose of a nail gun is to drive nails into a construction project, and they are typically only given to people who are qualified and understand the impact (ba dum tss) of what happens between the wall/project and their trigger finger (i.e. don't point it at people)

There are battery powered, cordless nail guns. But my point is that any tool can be used as a weapon. Guns are a tool and can be used for other things besides killing.

 

[ThisIsDaAccount]

There are battery powered, cordless nail guns. But my point is that any tool can be used as a weapon. Guns are a tool and can be used for other things besides killing.

That's certainly true, but for semi automatic rifles specifically, there isn't much use other than killing people. For self defense, you only need a handgun.

Granted, there should be an exception for military personel but they can get the guns from the military.

 

[Navonod]

That's certainly true, but for semi automatic rifles specifically, there isn't much use other than killing people. For self defense, you only need a handgun.

Granted, there should be an exception for military personel but they can get the guns from the military.

I know responsible adults who have semi automatic rifles for stress relief (when nothing else works) and some recreational purposes. What do you say to them?
If you don't like automatic rifles then don't buy one. Simple.

 

[ThisIsDaAccount]

I know responsible adults who have semi automatic rifles for stress relief (when nothing else works) and some recreational purposes. What do you say to them?
If you don't like automatic rifles then don't buy one. Simple.

I 100% believe you when you say they can be good for stress relief, but if the only use for them is stress relief then banning them is warranted. For all we know, shooting a bazooka can be good stress relief too, but they're still illegal for good reason.

 

[porkiewpyne]

I know responsible adults who have semi automatic rifles for stress relief (when nothing else works) and some recreational purposes. What do you say to them?
If you don't like automatic rifles then don't buy one. Simple.

By that logic, we should all be allowed to have bombs. It's not for killing. It's for stress relief.

Just because everything can kill you doesn't mean you stop trying to minimise risk.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Guns are a tool and can be used for other things besides killing.

Uh... Can you give me an example of something you can do with a modern firearm that doesn't involve killing or maiming?

 

[Navonod]

I 100% believe you when you say they can be good for stress relief, but if the only use for them is stress relief then banning them is warranted. For all we know, shooting a bazooka can be good stress relief too, but they're still illegal for good reason.

By that logic, we should all be allowed to have bombs. It's not for killing. It's for stress relief.

Just because everything can kill you doesn't mean you stop trying to minimise risk.

Hey as long as your responsible I don't care what anyone owns. I'm sure there are a handful of people in possession of explosives but they are responsible enough to keep them put away until they find a need for them. But regardless of the law people will find a way to obtain what ever they want. People should start learning the signs of people becoming a potential threat and call the proper authorities.

 

[ThisIsDaAccount]

Hey as long as your responsible I don't care what anyone owns. I'm sure there are a handful of people in possession of explosives but they are responsible enough to keep them put away until they find a need for them. But regardless of the law people will find a way to obtain what ever they want. People should start learning the signs of people becoming a potential threat and call the proper authorities.

Some people willing find a way but many others won't. Nicolas Cruz was literally a kid who lived in a Florida suburb an hour away from me, he didn't access to any sort of black market, he bought the AR-15 at a gun shop. If AR-15s had been banned, there would be 17 more kids in that school right now.

 

[Navonod]

Some people willing find a way but many others won't. Nicolas Cruz was literally a kid who lived in a Florida suburb an hour away from me, he didn't access to any sort of black market, he bought the AR-15 at a gun shop. If AR-15s had been banned, there would be 17 more kids in that school right now.

No. There needs to be an age limit and a required license to buy a gun.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Uh... Can you give me an example of something you can do with a modern firearm that doesn't involve killing or maiming?

A quick google search and....

Collecting: There are many gun collectors out there. Some that have no other reason for owning a gun other than collecting and others like collecting and shooting. Rare guns can be worth thousands of dollars.

Conversation: Some people just like to sit around and BS about their guns. When someone gets a new gun they usually like to show it off to some of their friends. So what's wrong with that.

Sporting: Target shooting is a great sport and done everyday by thousands of people. There is also combat shooting which a lot of people enjoy.

Hunting: Meat is a food source; We all have to eat. Some people like to hunt their own meat. Meat packers shoot those cows and pigs too. Does anyone put down a gun for that?

Self Defense: One never know when or where he/she is going to be in a situation where they will need to defend themselves from a fatal attack. This could be on the street on even in your own home. Face it, we need to be able to protect ourselves and we have that right to do that.

Defense for Others: Here's a scenario. Suppose you're walking past a dark alley and notice some guy holding this a knife at some ladies throat. He is trying to remove her clothing and she is terrified. Being the good citizen that you are and carrying your gun, you decide you're not going to allow this to happen. It turns out that you just had to shoot this guy because he made an attempt to stab you. You just stopped a rape and/or a murder. The lady clings onto you as you wait for the police to arrive. So who was to know that this lady was a Anti-Gun-Nut.

Just Plain Having Fun: How many gun owners like to just go out and shoot em up. Go out to the desert or wherever and shoot at cans or anything they see (of course being lawful about it). Plinking is fun and lots of people do it. I have even known some people to pick up some of the trash they shot at left by others. So tell me how that is bad.

Found here http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?89148-Guns-are-not-only-for-killing-people.

 

[ThisIsDaAccount]

No. There needs to be an age limit and a required license to buy a gun.

[

Those are necessary but they simply aren't enough. Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter, would've passed both of those.

 

[TesseractStorm]

There are battery powered, cordless nail guns. But my point is that any tool can be used as a weapon. Guns are a tool and can be used for other things besides killing.

Really? In what way?

Target shooting? Practice for killing.
Hunting? Killing.
Defense? Either killing or threatening to kill. Though the latter is stupid, if your situation is dire enough to warrant pulling a gun, you'd best be committed to using it. Also helps if you've got the judgment to understand when to draw and when to defuse the situation, pity so few do...

A gun is a weapon and this ridiculous attitude that it isn't is part of what gets people killed.

I'm not saying guns are evil. I just think we need to relearn respect for what these things truly are, weapons designed to kill.

That means sensible controls. Making sure those who own guns know how to securely store them and to use them safely. Making sure military grade weapons aren't in the hands of civilians.

Seems ridiculous that it's more work to maintain the right to drive than the right to walk around with a gun. Heck some states will let you get concealed carry permits with less hassle than a driver's license. You can be blind and suffer from seizures and still buy a gun. Good luck getting that far with the DMV.

 

[Navonod]

Those are necessary but they simply aren't enough. Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter, would've passed both of those.

Obviously very strict tests, background checks, and questioning would be necessary before handing over a license. lol
You guys are making it difficult on your selves by thinking to hard.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Really? In what way?

Target shooting? Practice for killing.
Hunting? Killing.
Defense? Either killing or threatening to kill. Though the latter is stupid, if your situation is dire enough to warrant pulling a gun, you'd best be committed to using it. Also helps if you've got the judgment to understand when to draw and when to defuse the situation, pity so few do...

A gun is a weapon and this ridiculous attitude that it isn't is part of what gets people killed.

I'm not saying guns are evil. I just think we need to relearn respect for what these things truly are, weapons designed to kill.

That means sensible controls. Making sure those who own guns know how to securely store them and to use them safely. Making sure military grade weapons aren't in the hands of civilians.

Seems ridiculous that it's more work to maintain the right to drive than the right to walk around with a gun. Heck some states will let you get concealed carry permits with less hassle than a driver's license. You can be blind and suffer from seizures and still buy a gun. Good luck getting that far with the DMV.

I've said what I'm about to say to many times to count. Proper training, tests, and background checks would help a lot among other things. Taking automatic guns from responsible gun owners isn't going to stop the criminals from getting them.

Even if it stops criminals or makes it harder, they will go to the next best thing. Shotguns. If not shotguns then hand guns. If not guns at all then knifes.