Connecticut Town Will Destroy Violent Games

Connecticut Town Will Collect, Destroy Violent Games

Southington, Connecticut is seeking to collect and destroy violent games. A new initiative called the Violent Video Games Return Program is offering citizens a $25 gift certificate in exchange for their violent games. According to Polygon, the collected games will then be "snapped, tossed into a town dumpster and likely later incinerated." The event is organized by the SouthingtonSOS, which includes members of “the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, board of education, fire department, town officials, United Way and local clergy.” Violent movies and music will also be accepted.

"There are youngsters who appear to be consumed with violent video games,” Southington School superintendent Joe Erardi told Polygon. "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. We're suggesting that for parents who have a child or children who play violent video games, to first of all view the games. We're asking parents to better understand what their child is doing. Have a conversation about next steps. If parents are comfortable [with their child's gaming habits], we're comfortable.”

The event will take place on January 12th at the Southington Drive-in Theatre, where Polygon reports people who bring in games will receive “a $25 gift voucher intended to be used for other forms of entertainment, like perhaps, a local water park." The gift certificate will be donated by a member of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce as a "token of appreciation for their action of responsible citizenship.”

SouthingtonSOS released the following statement about the event:

"The group's action is not intended to be construed as statement declaring that violent video games were the cause of the shocking violence in Newtown on December 14th. Rather, SouthingtonSOS is saying is that there is ample evidence that violent video games, along with violent media of all kinds, including TV and Movies portraying story after story showing a continuous stream of violence and killing, has contributed to increasing aggressiveness, fear, anxiety and is desensitizing our children to acts of violence including bullying. Social and political commentators, as well as elected officials including the president, are attributing violent crime to many factors including inadequate gun control laws, a culture of violence and a recreational culture of violence."

"Our message is fairly simple: Have the conversation with your child," Erardi added. "If you conclude your child is done with these games, drop them off and [let's] move forward. That is all. It's not about the NRA endorsing, or video game production companies defending, it's a grassroots movement. It's simple and we believe it's meaningful."

Southington’s efforts come just a couple weeks after West Virginia senator Jay Rockefeller proposed a bill to study “the impact of violent content, including video games and video programming, on children” and the National Rifle Association blamed violent entertainment for recent shootings.

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Eeyeah, let me tell you how violent Team Fortress 2 makes me. Oh, wait, I'm not a violent person about 90% of the time, and the remaining 10%, someone else has to really cross a specific line to make me go off on a violent rage.

sure sure~ blame video games.

not all the movies and tv shows with all the sex, drugs, violence and death.

Game of Thrones?

Too bad a lot of games are digitally downloaded today.

America: Land of the free, home of shows like the Walking Dead but *** if you show nipples or a rock hard penis on TV.

I guess the real question is, does Gamestop pay $25 to buy back used games?

If not, then sure I'll buy a new game, play it to completion, and then hand it over to the local council for $25.

America: Land of the free, home of shows like the Walking Dead but *** if you show nipples or a rock hard penis on TV.

You're assuming that more guns means that tragedies would be prevented rather than just escalated or worse, innocents being killed by would-be defenders. You think guns in the hands of every dipshit in large cities would be a good idea?

It's all assumption. Most psychopaths are foiled by boring detective work, loved ones turning you in or chance screwups. We're enamored by
flashy TV style results but really what stops violence is prevention, not last minute heroics.

You're assuming that more guns means that tragedies would be prevented rather than just escalated or worse, innocents being killed by would-be defenders. You think guns in the hands of every dipshit in large cities would be a good idea?

It's all assumption. Most psychopaths are foiled by boring detective work, loved ones turning you in or chance screwups. We're enamored by
flashy TV style results but really what stops violence is prevention, not last minute heroics.

and you're assuming that i meant everyone needs a gun. what i was driving at is the fact that we as a whole have become far too complacent and completely rely on others for our own safty. even if it's only a slim chance that someone could've stopped a shooting by killing the shooter, i'd still rather have that slim chance opposed to certain death, the means in which he was stopped is irrelevant to me be it gun, knife, or ppl just beating him to death if they could get close enough.

If they really cared about their kids they would be good parents. And not look to easy fixes (ban violent video games) to raise a "normal" child. You can take away little billy's video games. But if you are terrible parent he will probably be a terrible adult.

If they really cared about their kids they would be good parents. And not look to easy fixes (ban violent video games) to raise a "normal" child. You can take away little billy's video games. But if you are terrible parent he will probably be a terrible adult.