Parents - Lock up your guns when there are kids around

[Fiddle]

https://www.wcbi.com/breaking-13-year-old-girl-dies-9-year-old-brother-allegedly-shot-head/

And now this.
Parental responsibility!!!

 

[Route 45]

That wasn't an accident. That was murder.

Damn.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

The "video games cause violence!" crowd will lazily latch onto this story.

Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell says the 13-year old girl who was allegedly shot in the head by her 9-year old brother is dead.

Sheriff Cecil Cantrell says the nine year old boy shot his older sister because of an argument over a video game controller.

The sheriff says the boy went and grabbed a .25 caliber when his sister wouldn’t give him the controller.

To be fair, no one wants the "player 2" controller.

 

[Fiddle]

Can a 9 year old really be guilty of murder?

 

[HoughMade]

Can a 9 year old really be guilty of murder?

Well, a 9 year old cannot be waived from juvenile court to "adult" court (a 10 year old can for murder)...but that's the legal answer, not a philosophical one.

Yes, secure your guns....but this is a parent/kid problem more than a gun problem...as always.

And do I think violent video games have an effect? Here? I have no idea. Some desensitizing, contributing effect in some cases? Probably.

 

[Fiddle]

Video game controls are getting more realistic.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Some desensitizing, contributing effect in some cases? Probably.

But there's still no evidence to suggest this is remotely true.

It's a lazy scapegoat, nothing more.

 

[HoughMade]

But there's still no evidence to suggest this is remotely true.

It's a lazy scapegoat, nothing more.

Where did I say that violent video games were linked to an increase in societal violence or aggression?....which is what that completely objective article addressed.

 

[Expat]

By nine my kids knew not to touch the guns even if it was laying out in the open.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Where did I say that violent video games were linked to an increase in societal violence or aggression?....which is what that completely objective article addressed.

Which one? There's 11. A few touch on the "desensitization" claim too.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

But there's still no evidence to suggest this is remotely true.

It's a lazy scapegoat, nothing more.

One man's lazy scapegoat is another man's practical consideration.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

One man's lazy scapegoat is another man's practical consideration.

It's not practical if it's baseless. Seems more like an emotional stance than a practical one.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

It's not practical if it's baseless. Seems more like an emotional stance than a practical one.

I agree that it's used as an emotional stance (the same way as the evil AR idea), but what's lost in the emotional/political noise is the objective examination.

 

[1nderbeard]

Tragic, with more than one cause.
Negligent parents - gun accessible-kids trained enough to use it but not enough to respect it-kids not taught the value of life

 

[CraigAPS]

There actually are psychological studies that say there is a correlation between violent video games and violent tendencies. I was told this by a friend who is a psychology professor. So, I haven't read them. Of course, a correlation doesn't mean causation. I would imagine the argument could easily be made that those with violent tendencies chose violent video games. Who knows?

 

[Old Syko]

By nine my kids knew not to touch the guns even if it was laying out in the open.

Same here brother. Once had an acquaintance stop by who I allowed to join us on my home range. After exhibiting some unsafe gun handling practices my then 10 year old granddaughter warned him he may be forced to leave because of it. He attempted to set her straight at which point I intervened by unloading his firearm and escorting him to his vehicle. Proper training must start early and be upheld correctly to be effective and in her case that is truly what has happened.

I once had a parent tell me they would refuse to allow their child to come to our place to play with my kids until I could prove to them my home had been completely child proofed due to my ownership of firearms. I let them know their child would not be allowed to stay until they could prove to me he had been completely gun proofed. He didn't stay or ever return. They eventually moved from the country back to the safety of Chicago.

 

[Thor]

How about...parents teach your children responsible gun handling...and to not be murders.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

How about...parents teach your children responsible gun handling...and to not be murders.

I doubt this kid was ever taught the severity of what he was messing with. Obviously it should never have been where a child could get to it... but if it's an object that your kids are going to see, then it needs to be hammered into their heads how serious and off-limits it is.

 

[Cygnus]

I'll just kinda drop this here.......
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_modeling

Repetitions practicing the target behavior. I do believe that modeling (of violence being rewarded, either in a game,movie or seeing some dirtbag get their name and face on TV after a killing) plays a role in this. As does mental illness. As does access by improper folk (many subtetxts in this as well)
I believe this effect only happens in folks already prone to this, but it can't be summarily discounted.
But I could be wrong.

 

[thunderchicken]

I don't know to what extent video games/movies havr one anyone's behavior.
But, I do believe the younger the child is the more impact it may have. I base that simply off observing how little kids try to act out the actions portrayed in video games/movies.

Let's face it, we are all influenced in some way by everything around us. The more imersed we are with something the more impact it has on us. Doesn't matter if we are talking about people we hang out with, hobbies, work, teachers, movies/video games. It all has some impact on who we are and what we view as acceptable. As our interests change and we become imersed in something else our behaviors change.
As video games/movies go, I think there is some element of desensitizing. To what degree, I don't know.
I believe that the graphics have gotten too realistic. I think that the first time a person sees a real gun shot wound or dead body it triggers a reaction that gets a little weaker the more an individual is subjected to seeing it.