Sen. Joe Lieberman had a long and storied career against video game violence. Now retired, the stage is set for a replacement in the wake of the shooting at Sandy, and plenty of other politicians have stepped up to offer thier own opinions on the issue.
We've heard statements from NJ governor Chris Christie, Sen. Joe Manchin, Sen. Leland Yee, and others. Today, a new politician has stepped forward, and not to sound too high and mighty, but this particular phrase might echo throughout tha ages as one of the stupidest things to have ever been uttered by a man, let alone, an elected official.
The latest statement comes from Lamar Alexander, Republican Senator from Tennessee. We're all entitled to our opinions, but Sen. Alexander's is of the mindset that "video games is a bigger problem than guns, because video games affect people," the Senator told The Daily Rundown host Chuck Todd on MSNBC earlier today.
I feel as though that bears repeating.
"I think video games is a bigger problem than guns, because video games affect people." There's a clip below so you can hear the senator actually speak those words.
So many things I'd love to say, but alas, what's the point?
There are as many studies suggesting that playing violent games or watching violent movies leads to actual violence, as there are that say the same subject matter has no bearing on a player's decision to act out in a violent manner.
Besides, studies can be cited until your eyeballs bleed out, but chances are, if you're reading these words, you've already made up your mind. And since this is a video game site, my own personal opinions should be abundantly obvious. But, I do have something of a bias, as the current scapegoat is how I pay my bills.
Arguing will do very little with people like this, but there is something that will have an even greater effect. For any Tennessee residents that are reading this, Alexander has already announced he'll be running for re-election in 2014. Feel free to let him know how you feel by casting your vote.