Glenn Beck once again blames video games For the Sandy Hook shooting
Months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, self-proclaimed libertarian/conservative Glenn Beck believed that it wasn't the murderer Adam Lanza's mental health or easy access to weapons that lead to the tragic events that happened on December 14th last year. What was it then? Take it away Beck:
I do love the irony in the last sentence. If you want to see the video and what other "factual information" Mr. Beck had to offer about video games and their contribution to Lanza's actions, well, here you go:
In one manner, it's actually kind of amusing; my history teacher in high school once told me that history repeats itself and will continue to repeat itself. Smart guy and a ton of fun to be around but I'm getting off track. Well in this day and age, I'm surprised that the "video games are evil" card is once again being toted as if it was some fact that this entertainment medium will corrupt young minds.
Yes, video games are a young medium and are easy to "pick on" for various social problems, but they've also been proven in the past to have never been the cause of the taking of anyone's lives through the act of murder nor will they ever be without a shadow of a doubt. If they had been, we would have seen more of these supposed gaming murders during the 8-bit and 16-bit era. Plus, there would be more news stories outside of the same politicians attacking titles like Night Trap or Mortal Kombat, or for the apparent influence Doom and Wolfenstein 3D had on Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold at the Columbine High School Shooting in 1999 when in actuality, they had been the victims of bullying and doctors said the boys were mentally unstable.
Heck, I'd be a video game reviewer psychopath by his definition of medical "facts", but I'm an intellectual, sophisticated youth who enjoys a spot of jasmine tea and finds Mr. Beck's statement to be nothing more than poppycock.
Hmph, balderdash I say Mr. Beck
In the off chance that Glenn Beck does come across this or some uniformed personal who's knowledge of video games effects on children is stuck in the 70s and 80s, let me make this clear: Adam Lanza did not go to Sandy Hook Elementary School that day because he played video games in the dark, or in the basement, or was lonely. He did not kill his own mother because he liked to play Call of Duty. He didn't end 28 people's lives on December 14th, 2012 because he was "addicted to the new gateway drug to madness that is video games".
He committed his unforgivable action out of his own free will coupled with him suffering from a combination of sensory integration dysfunction and neurodevelopment disorder, and was a gun enthusiast with easy access to assault weapons, something upon further reading, Glenn Beck is said to be as a supporter of. Given the current debate on gun control going on in the White House and his stance against gun control legislation that would explain why he would rather not blame the person for their actions and instead fabricate some medical fact that demonizes the entertainment medium of his choice and scapegoat.
The Dude does not abide. I mean, that's like, your own opinion man.
As a Canadian gamer who lives in a country where legally owning a fire is possible (but incredibly difficult to do so), I'm sick of not just being reminded of such a horrific event. The fact that anyone actually has the nerve to paint this tragedy as if it's the fault of electronic entertainment for putting a virtual gun in the killer and without mentioning they're a madman who wielded an actual gun and did what they did! 28 people are dead and instead of having an intellectual conversation as to why this happened and how to prevent events like this ever happening again, we're scapegoating video games? Again?
To end this, I think that there can be no classier way to summarize my thoughts on Mr. Beck's statement than this:
*Side-Note: If anyone thinks that games desensitize those who play them, I strongly urge you to watch Jim Sterling's Jimquisition episode on that very subject matter. Cheers.*
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g1 DISCUSSIONS
firehazard51
Glenn Beck very delusional and doesn't surprise me about his blame (if only partial, yet significant) on video games for shootings. I have yet to hear a rational theory come from him that wasn't part of a larger theory that was bat shit crazy. Basically he's a person that scares me not because of what he says, but the fact that many people actually pay attention to him and believe in his views and opinions.
JHawk99
Now, I could go on a page long rant about my stance on people doing things like this... which might I add has already been said many times. Or I could hit that lil' subscribe button applaud you for your oh so very valid point and shut my mouth.
Drag0n92
glenn beck needs to shut up.
MaxusFox23
...*frustrated sigh* Just how much stupidity can come out from this man's mouth?
Evil Ivan
Here's the entirety of that segment, which, for some reason, our author couldn't be bothered to use as a more complete representation of Glenn Beck's thoughts.
I don't fully concur with Beck regarding graphic violence in video games, but this masturbatory pap does not a convincing rebuttal make. The suggestion that he altogether dismisses Adam Lanza's mental illness as a causal factor in the Sandy Hook shooting is a grotesque straw man; of course he acknowledges it. What the disagreement centers on is which factors were dominant over others.
To address guns: Employing the term "assault weapon" in any serious statement about the use of firearms in violent crime betrays a lack of pertinent knowledge, and thus renders your opinion on the subject worthless. What's more, Glenn Beck does ultimately blame Lanza, rather than lay primary blame at the feet of law-abiding gun owners who've done nothing wrong.
CaztheGamerGuy
I did watch his full speech, however, when the man begins his with talking about getting to the truth and immediately brings up gun laws, just because he doesn't condone censorship does not excuse him nor excuse the fact that he's clearly ignoring that there in order to ignore the underlying issue and not consider either the poor parenting of several individuals, a discussion on the recent shootings or gun laws as a possibility as to a solution for this problem (Note I said a, not the; i'm not here to engage massive debate, it's not my concern. However it's hard to ignore that instead of considering the subject of gun regulation in his timing, he said that our children our becoming desensitized to reality, which is why I included that Jim Sterling video) and as such, the general gist of his thoughts on the subject of video games contribution to violent media would suffice in making his stance clear (And that is in addition to the fact that I doubt many viewers would not listen to all 8 or so minutes of his approach to the subject as opposed to jumping to the comment section and disregard his opinion, much like you later say so based on my defining of one term, but i'll touch on that later). The very fact that he implied video games or any outside force beyond Lanza's control had any impact on as opposed to his mental state at the time doesn't hide him from criticism or the message he was trying to get across to parents by making them aware that video games may have some effect on your child's development, not their parenting skills which lets kids who are 12 get the games in the first place(something that happened with rock n' roll's supposed corruption in such memorable propaganda as "Rock: It's Your Decision" or "Reefer Madness" with Marijuana, of which I do not have a stance on its legalization or condemnation ).
As for the assault weapon comment, considering the fact that the definition of such is usually defined by a semi-automatic firearms which fires a single round (sometimes they refer to it as a bullet but other times, they do not) and has a detachable magazine, not to mention that the "guns" being considered banned fall under that definition and assault weapons ban have been considered in the United States of America, the term gun seems appropriate as an exchangeable term that does nothing to make my opinion on Mr. Beck's words any less significant than yours, something i've seen used by several professional journalists. If you had said that I didn't understand American gun culture and it's historical significance, that would have been both justifiable as a stance, but that's not what you said. I'm not here to debate in whether or not Beck ultimately believes or claims to believe that Lanza is the killer (out of his own free will or not), i'm giving my opinion about the subject and how sick I am of a scapegoat even exiting for a tragedy like this at all. It is the year 2013; anyone in a position such as Mr. Beck should be educated enough about a subject before they go and speak about it to a nation and try to educate the uninformed public. That is all, and have a good day sir.
Evil Ivan
If Beck's focus on video games precludes him from considering parental responsibility and mental illness as factors in the shooting, per your argument, then why would he close his segment with an urging that parents control their children's gaming? Pretty strange advice from a guy who ignores such things.
Propagandist journalists and the clueless politicians that pushed the 1994 "Assault Weapons Ban" confer no legitimacy to the term in question. It's a misnomer used to dupe the public into confusing semi-automatic rifles (firearms that have been on the civilian market for decades) with automatic rifles typically used by the military. Practical features and black plastic are all that really distinguish scaaaaary assault weapons from grandpa's home defense rifle.
This is why whatever you have to say about guns as it relates to Sandy Hook, in this or any other discussion, is hardly worth an ear.
fiizz01
This guy is one of the leading scum of the Earth. I wonder if this dumbass has even played a videogame. If his absolutely stupid theory had even a fraction of truth or validity to it, there would be a massacre such as this one every goddamn week at the least.
tricobalt
He definitely does have the personality of an addict. That's why his politics are so obsessive and puritan.
Double-T
You can't compare this fool to Jack Thompson. After speaking to Jack at SGC 1 I have a MUCH higher level of respect for Jack Thompson then I ever will for this fear mongering idiot. Also the fact that Beck is against ANY form of gun laws, at all, makes him the least qualified to speak on the subject.