Violent video games cause "observable behavioral changes", Connecticut politican opines

Connecticut lawmaker DebraLee Hovey has called for stricter control of violent video games following the tragedy of Sandy Hook.

In an opinion piece, Hovey described her failed bill to for higher taxes and more warning labels on violent video games.

Namedropping "countless studies", but failing to cite any of them, Hovey said video games have been linked with "noticable increases" in the frequency and severity of aggressive behaviour, especially among children and teens.

"The science is clear and overwhelming; the playing of violent video games by children and teens does lead to observable behavior changes," she argued.

Hovey wants violent games to attract the same kind of taxes and warnings as cigarettes.

"If we can educate consumers about mature video games as violent behavior triggers, and put more resources into researching contributing factors of violent behavior, why wouldn’t we?" she asked.

"If mature-rated video games carried an extra warning label, and were charged an extra tax due to their violent content - similar to the sin tax on cigarettes - a parent might think twice before purchasing that game for their young child. At minimum, a parent would be more conscious of the content in the games their children are playing."

Hovey's bill was "just one of "many other steps, both unobtrusive and less controversial to reduce violent acts in the future" - including, it must be said, stricter gun control - and only one part of a plan to "change an endemic culture of violence in our society".

The UKIE claims there is no proven scientific link between violent video games and violent behaviour.

Thanks, Gamespot.