US Vice President to discuss gun violence with games industry representatives

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American vice president Joe Biden is to discuss the thorny and oft-debated issue of gun violence with games industry representatives, new reports suggest.

Reuters reports that the National Rifle Association (NRA) is also meeting with Biden to discuss the issue, following the Sandy Hook shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, which President Barack Obama has since named the worst day of his presidency, according to the site.

Now, Obama’s VP has set up a task force geared towards examining the issue, and it is said that Biden will meet with industry figures as part of his campaign. White House spokesman Jay Carney explained, “[Biden's] group will also meet with representatives of the entertainment and video-game industries.”

The group will hold meetings at some point this week. Polygon reports that Biden’s meeting with the games industry comes as the The Entertainment Merchant’s Association wrote him a letter asking that he discuss the matter with them in person, to help root out stigma and to talk about key issues at hand.

Polygon covered the group’s letter to Biden here.

What’s your take on Biden actually taking time to meet with the industry? Will it help rationalise the reactionary link between violence and games and look at the real issues at hand? Let us know below.

Source: VG247

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With a White House imposed deadline for recommendations on how to curb gun violence looming, the politics surrounding the Newtown shooting, gun control and the role of entertainment in American culture continues to heat up.

Yesterday, the White House confirmed that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his task force will be meeting with representatives from the entertainment and video game industries this week to discuss gun-related violence.

Today, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took to CBS This Morning to say that talking about gun control in the wake of the Newtown shooting isn't enough.

"If all we talk about is just controlling guns, which we should talk about, we're not doing enough," he said.

Christie went on to say that the shooter obviously had mental illness issues and that the stigma in the country surrounding mental illness prevents some people from seeking treatment for themselves or their loved ones. He also said that the country needs to talk about substance abuse.

"Lastly," he said, "we need to talk violence in these video games. I have four kids at home, I don't allow Call of Duty or these other games in. We have to start talking about that as parents."

He said that all four of those things: gun control, mental illness, drug abuse and violent video games, need to be part of any national conversation surrounding the shooting at Newtown and something has to be done in all four of those categories.

Chrsitie's morning talk comes two days after the Entertainment Merchant's Association asked Biden to first look at the reports that already examined the role of video games in school shootings, before requesting another study.

http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/9/3854800/gov-christie-says-guns-drugs-mental-illness-and-video-games-need-to

Vidyagames have a rating, just like films, it's that simple, don't let your underage kids play M rated games, if you do AND complain about it, then you're a terrible parent. Also, love how the NRA are trying to blame videogames, take the heat off them.

Stoney wrote:

Vidyagames have a rating, just like films, it's that simple, don't let your underage kids play M rated games, if you do AND complain about it, then you're a terrible parent. Also, love how the NRA are trying to blame videogames, take the heat off them.

This

A part of me thinks this is just for show. Doubt anything is going to come out of it.

i hope so too teckno

Why is there a picture of Obama when it's about Biden?