The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and the International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDAF) have issued a joint statement refuting claims that video games cause gun violence in the wake of two horrific mass shootings that took place in the USA recently.
The statement comes after CNN reports that US President Donald Trump has linked the shootings to video games rather than access to high-powered weaponry.
“We must stop the glorification of violence in our society,” Trump said. “This includes the gruesome and grisly video games that are now commonplace.
“”It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence. We must stop or substantially reduce this and it has to begin immediately.”
A statement from IGDA Executive Director Renee Gittins and IGDAF Society Executive Director Nika Nour counters this, pointing out there is no evidence of a link between video games and violence.
“Our deepest condolences and hearts go out to the victims and families affected by the tragic events in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas,” the statement begins. “Society has endured too many senseless acts of violence and horrific mass shootings. Blaming video games distracts from the broader issues at hand. There is an overwhelming amount of research that finds there is no evidence linking video games to violence. Video games do not cause violence, and we support efforts to discontinue this misguided information.”
Our deepest sympathies to those impacted by these latest instances of gun violence in the USA.
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