Ten-country comparison suggests there’s little or no link between video games and gun murders

Posted by Max Fisher on December 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm

….Looking at the world’s 10 largest video game markets yields no evident, statistical correlation between video game consumption and gun-related killings….

No, that’s not it.

Maybe this is (October 2003):

SCIENCE BRIEFS

Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered Questions

Studies provide converging evidence that exposure to media violence is a significant risk factor for aggressive and violent behavior.

By Craig A. Anderson, PhD

….Further research will likely find some significant moderators of violent video game effects, because the much larger research literature on television violence has found such effects and the underlying processes are the same. However, even that larger literature has not identified a sizeable population that is totally immune to negative effects of media violence….

….Cartoonish and fantasy violence is often perceived (incorrectly) by parents and public policy makers as safe even for children. However, experimental studies with college students have consistently found increased aggression after exposure to clearly unrealistic and fantasy violent video games. Indeed, at least one recent study found significant increases in aggression by college students after playing E-rated (suitable for everyone) violent video games….

But, if you tax the bullets at $5,000.00 each…

HB 157, introduced yesterday:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 157

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE FRANKLIN.

0923H.01I     D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 144, RSMo, by adding thereto three new sections relating to violent video games, with an emergency clause.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

           Section A. Chapter 144, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto three new sections, to be known as sections 144.1020, 144.1022, and 144.1024, to read as follows:

           144.1020. As used in sections 144.1022 and 144.1024, the term “violent video game” means a video or computer game that has received a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board of Teen, Mature, or Adult Only.

           144.1022. 1. In addition to any other sales tax provided for by law, there is hereby levied upon sales of all violent video games an excise tax based on the gross receipts or gross proceeds of each sale at a rate of one percent.

           2. The rate provided for in subsection 1 of this section shall not affect any county or municipal sales tax imposed pursuant to law.

           3. The revenue generated by the additional tax imposed under this section, less any reduction allowed under section 149.021, shall be deposited in the state general revenue fund and appropriated solely for the treatment of mental health conditions associated with exposure to violent video games. The revenues derived from the tax imposed under this section shall constitute new and additional funding for treatment of mental health conditions associated with exposure to violent video games and shall not be used to replace existing funding as of July 1, 2013, for the same or similar funding for treatment of mental health conditions associated with exposure to violent video games.

           144.1024. 1. In addition to any other tax provided for by law, there is hereby levied upon persons storing, using, or otherwise consuming within this state, tangible personal property purchased or brought into this state, an excise tax on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of all violent video games, based on the gross receipts or purchase price of such property at a rate of one percent.

           2. The revenue generated by the additional tax imposed under this section, less any reduction allowed under section 149.021, shall be deposited in the state general revenue fund and appropriated solely for the treatment of mental health conditions associated with exposure to violent video games. The revenues derived from the tax imposed under this section shall constitute new and additional funding for treatment of mental health conditions associated with exposure to violent video games and shall not be used to replace existing funding as of July 1, 2013, for the same or similar funding for treatment of mental health conditions associated with exposure to violent video games.

           Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to protect the mental health of individuals exposed to violent video games, the enactment of sections 144.1020, 144.1022, and 144.1024 of this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and the enactment of sections 144.1020, 144.1022, and 144.1024 of this act is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and the enactment of sections 144.1020, 144.1022, and 144.1024 of this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.

[emphasis in original]

The sponsor:

Rep. Diane Franklin, a Republican, represents parts of Camden and Laclede counties (District 123) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She was elected to her first two-year term in November 2010.

In addition to her legislative activities, Rep. Franklin is a third-generation small business owner, presently in health care, and a fifth-generation farmer. She has served on the Camdenton R-III School Board from 1993 to 1999 and as a Board Representative to Career and Technical, Parents as Teachers and to the Dorothy Blair Scholarship Fund.

Rep. Franklin is a member of the National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation and Missouri Farm Bureau. She is also a member of the American and Missouri Trap Shooting Associations where she is one of four women on the Missouri State Trapshooting Team. She is a member of Lake Area, Camdenton and Lebanon Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of Canopy Church. Rep. Franklin has served as both president and vice president of the Lake Masters Area Gardeners.

Rep. Franklin is a 1974 graduate of Camdenton RIII schools, a graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College and has completed course work at Southwest Baptist University and Truman State University.

[….]

Probably not a fan of Chris Rock’s solution.

There’s an interesting footnote (the second) in Justice Alito’s concurrence to Justice Scalia’s opinion in BROWN v. ENTERTAINMENT MERCHANTS ASSN. (No. 08-1448) 556 F. 3d 950, affirmed. (2011) overturning California’s ban on selling or renting violent video games to minors:  

…Under the California law, a game that meets the threshold requirement set out in text also qualifies as “violent” if it “[e]nables the player to virtually inflict serious injury upon images of human beings or characters with substantially human characteristics in a manner which is especially heinous, cruel, or depraved in that it involves torture or serious physical abuse to the victim.” §1746(d)(1)(B). In the Court of Appeals, California conceded that this alternative definition is unconstitutional, 556 F. 3d 950, 954, n. 5 (CA9 2009), and therefore only the requirements set out in text are now before us….

Why should our video games be any different than our society?

Poll finds lack of support for ‘torture’ investigations

updated 3:16 p.m. EDT, Wed May 6, 2009

“…Roughly one in five Americans believe those techniques were torture but nonetheless approve of the decision to use those procedures against suspected terrorists,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. “That goes a long way toward explaining why a majority don’t want to see former Bush officials investigated…”

Washington Post-ABC News Poll

This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone April 21-24, 2009, among a random national sample of 1,072 adults using both conventional and cellular phones…The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points…

…30. Obama has said that under his administration the United States will not use torture as part of the U.S. campaign against terrorism, no matter what the circumstance. Do you support this position not to use torture, or do you think there are cases in which the United States should consider torture against terrorism suspects?

4/24/09

Support not using torture – 49%

There are cases to consider torture – 48%

No opinion – 2%

1/16/09

Support not using torture – 58%

There are cases to consider torture – 40%

No opinion – 2%

Do you think the undecideds work in the video game industry?

Previously: A Small Clique Of Legal Extremists… (February 24, 2008)