According to Marin County, California District Attorney Ed Berberian, video games (and toy guns) are to blame for domestic violence.
Berberian is reportedly collaborating with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and the Center for Domestic Peace to encourage families to rid their households of toy guns and violent video games.
Read more details after the break.
Video Games Cause Domestic Violence?
Ed Berberian had the following to say on the matter.
“As we know domestic violence incidents almost always have children present and these children develop over time imprinted images of the family violence, these children then carry those experiences into their adult lives and often repeat the pattern of violence in their own family units.”
Berberian’s line of thought says that the disposal of violent video games allows “a chance to change today’s modeling patterns,” and that reducing exposure to the violence contained within video games may “alter how one later addresses conflict situations.”
Additionally, due to the Berberian’s partnership with the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and the Center for Domestic Peace, Ben & Jerry will donate ice cream to to parents and children that opt to turn in toy guns and video games at a number of locations.
Statements were made by employees of the Center for Domestic Peace and Ben & Jerry’s.
Marla Hedlund, community relations managers for the Center for Domestic Peace, said:
“Children reflect the culture they live in, this is really all about having a conversation with our community and our children about the culture of violence. We’re trying to inspire people to become part of the movement to create peace in a violence-free environment.”
Furthermore, the owner of the donating Ben & Jerry’s says that program is for raising awareness.
Marin County’s toy gun/video game program is in response to last year’s incident in which a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a 13-year-old who was carrying an AK-47-inspired airsoft gun.
Author’s Take:
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt the urge to kill someone after a GTA V session. I feel as though this may be a form of scapegoating by Berberian/the media.
This has been a huge topic in the past, that has (mostly) been debunked. Any act of violence that has been reported by mainstream media that has remotely involved video games has always proved that the person who committed the act was already psychologically unstable.
I’m really not sure of Berberian’s intentions with his program, but I hope that, while done in ignorance, it was implemented with good intentions. What are your thoughts on Ed Berberian’s program? Do video games really promote domestic violence (or any type of violence for that matter)?
Let me know in the comments section below! As always, stay tuned to GamerHeadlines.com for the latest in video game and technology news.
Source: The Marin Independent Journal
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