A sixteen-year-old Chicago sophomore has been ordered to stay away from violent video games following threats to commit a school shooting on social media.
When Kentucky governor Matt Bevin (R) condemned violent video games, stating that they are responsible for “desensitizing young people to the actual tragic reality and permanency of death,” many weighed in on the discussion. His insinuations that violent video games were partly responsible for mass shootings were met with either staunch support or fierce opposition, yet now, a 16-year-old Chicago high school sophomore has been ordered not to play violent video games after making threats on social media.
This information comes from a report in the Chicago Tribune, which states the student responded negatively to the ongoing debate about guns and school safety. This threat follows the deadly Parkland shooting that claimed the lives of 17 students and faculty. Reportedly, the student posted a Snapchat video of himself playing a shooting game and wrote, “Y’all need to shut up about school shootings or I’ll do one.”
The student was arrested, and the house was searched. No weapons were found, and after the sophomore’s appearance in the DuPage County juvenile court, the public defender said the comment was a joke. Prosecutors contended that it was not an appropriate subject for jokes, and Judge Robert Anderson allowed him to return home, although on indefinite home detention. Moreover, he also ordered the student’s cell phone to be turned over to his parents and banned him from playing violent video games.
Anderson is quoted as having said, “You can play all the Mario Kart you want.” Despite there being no empirical evidence suggesting a causality between violent video games and mass shootings (and studies as recent as Jan. 16 suggesting otherwise), this hasn’t prevented Anderson’s order or even President Trump from commenting on video game violence. Still, school shootings are no joking matter, as this sophomore has hopefully learned.
This violent video game ban by Anderson follows a proposed violent video game tax increase by Rhode Island Representative Robert Nardolillo (R). As long as discussions continue on this matter, similar actions may follow. Hopefully, the aforementioned events lead this Chicago sophomore to recognize the need for open, respectful discussion on such matters, and a real solution for the US’s mass shooting crisis arises from the ongoing debate.
