A group calling themselves SouthingtonSOS have set up a Violent Video Games Return Program offering gamers a 25 dollar gift certificate if they hand over their violent games.
The initiative has been sparked by the Newtown killings in which Adam Lanza went on a shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School killing six adults and 20 children. Lanza was said to have been a keen player of violent videgoames, including Call Of Duty.
The program has been backed by the Chamber of Commerce, local churches and officials and Southington’s education board.
Southington School superintendent, Joe Erardi, spoke about the initiative with Polygon: “What happened in our community, very similar to communities across the world, is everyone wanted to do something for Newtown. The SOS convened and we looked at how do we continue to pray and support Newtown and how do we do something perhaps meaningful for Newtown and our own community.”
Referring to this particular program, in which gamers can hand-in their violent video games at the Southington Drive-in from January 12, 2013, Erardi said: “There are youngsters who appear to be consumed with violent video games. I’m not certain if that’s a good thing. If this encourages one courageous conversation with a parent and their child, then it’s a success.”
YMCA Executive Director John Myers added: “We’re concerned about our kids getting desensitized to violence and desensitized to other risky behavior.”
There’s currently a bill waiting to be passed in the senate that seeks to examine the impact of violent in videogames. When the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association was asked about his opinion on the impact that games may have had on the Connecticut shootings he said that video games played a bigger role in the massacre than guns.
It’s a sentiment that seems a little harsh considering Lanza may have had all kinds of mental health issues, not to mention a mother who was a keen gun enthusiast.
Do you think the violent videogame amnesty is a good idea? Is it something that other towns and cities should roll-out? Let us know in the community forums.
Source: Bristol Press