Chief of Germany's national police union wants to ban violent games
by Xav de Matos 
{ Mar 23rd 2009 at 3:24PM }
17-year-old Tim Kretschmer reportedly murdered 15 school goers, both students and teachers -- fourteen of which were female -- before taking his own life.
According to German news site Echo Online, an addiction to "killergames" is apparent in "every situation" of violent rampages. Whether or not the site is making a statement specific to Germany or a sweeping judgment on worldwide violence is unclear. As for Schmitt, he is aware there is no evidence that violent video games cause violent behavior, but thinks the role of "killergames" cannot be "completely dismissed." With that in mind, Schmitt believes when an opportunity exists to remove a potentially violent stimulus, it must be used. "The world would be no poorer if there were no more killergames," the chief of the German police union added.
It's difficult to analyze, or even dismiss, Schmitt's claims following such a horrific act. However, it's even more difficult to gauge any psychological triggers that exist in our society. After all, throughout history violent behavior has been blamed on almost everything, but because of their graphic nature, mature games have become the easiest target to publicly lambaste.
[Via GamePolitics]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The Baron @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:28PM
*copies and pastes pre-made comments which applies in every such news story*
Guy's a reactionary douche.
Neuromancer @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:33PM
Has this guy ever actually played a video game?
He's totally out of touch!
baby sea tuna @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:35PM
Yeah, this guy plays games all the time. Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, Company of Heroes, Wolfenstein, oh...wait.
holyice7 @ Mar 23rd 2009 7:49PM
It may be hard to analyze, but lemme give it a shot here...
He's saying that gamers are natural-born murderers, and the only thing that awakens the Ramboesque rage that causes us to wrap our Cheetoh stained digits around a nine-mil is virtual depictions is a game, or games, that depict similar scenarios. Too far from the target?
Then again, this is all reliant on the translator's ability...he could truly be a reasonable man making a point that remains locked within the confines of the German language. Still, the safer route is to suggest he doesn't 'understand' gamers or games.
Cj @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:28PM
For a country were such terrible things happened, you think they would be a little more immune fake violence.
The Baron @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:39PM
It's partially because of that particular historical event that such bizarre laws exist in Germany.
For example, denying the holocaust is a punishable crime there; but if you show the Nazis in a video game it's instantly banned. Politicians are quick to censor and declare moral outrage, but as liberal as it's possible to be when it comes to immigration.
David @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:58PM
For a country where such terrible things happened, you'd thing they would be more wary of blatant free speech violations.
petey @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:32PM
If those cops had done even little investigation about the case, their conclusions would be different. The guy was bullied at school, wasn't popular with girls and had basicly no friends. Yeah. Sounds like its the games that messed this guy up.
Markez @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:34PM
Sounds like bullies can be a violent stimulus and should be done away with.
I don't know who will be left to dole out swirlies to nerds in Germany, sadly, but it must be done.
Zertoss @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:02PM
But if we do away with bullies, we won't have any more cops!
Erluti @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:05PM
"The guy was bullied at school, wasn't popular with girls and had basicly no friends."
Stereo-typing them is no worse than what this police officer has done!
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Mar 23rd 2009 6:55PM
That's some fine police work there Schmitt.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:33PM
Reading the news makes me want to kill. Can we ban that?
WiredKnight @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:53PM
I was going to make a joke about Fox News, but you said "reading."
Cena @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:36PM
Ok, seriously, this whole "Connect all suprising violent bullshit to violent games" movement can get the fuck off my internets.
genaldar @ Mar 24th 2009 2:28AM
It's not new though. Before violent games it was violent TV that "caused" this. Before that it was violent movies. Before that it was comics. Before that they just blamed Satan and called it a day.
da governator @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:38PM
Like Chris Rock said, "Whatever happened to just plain crazy?"
Kevin949 @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:53PM
a better excuse came along, something that is tangible and can be acted against. But ya, I miss the "insanity" cause as well.
Markez @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:39PM
Interesting excerpt from the source:
"There is admittedly no proof "that these frequent escapes into virtual killerworlds can contribute to such insane deeds", said Schmitt, "But neither can the role killergames be completely dismissed."
When a chance to remove a probable cause exists, it must be used, insisted the chief of the national police union. "The world would be no poorer if there were no more killergames."
The two 1st quotes together are, eh, comical.
Brodo @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:11PM
The future is becoming fahrenheit 451! BURN BURN BURN!!
Us joystiq readers will be the Guy Montags of present day society and keep the legacy that is video games living on for the generations to come!
ronEbear @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:39PM
We might as well ban t.v., books, films, brochures, pamphlets and free thinking while we`re at it.
WiredKnight @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:52PM
Burn 'em all! That will surely make the people happy!
F1 @ Mar 23rd 2009 5:04PM
Germany already tried that. Didn't really work out for them.
joeybeast @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:40PM
Don't you know that before video games there was no violence?
Kevin949 @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:54PM
Jack the ripper and the Holocaust were just fairy tales to scare children, ya?
AirIntake @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:40PM
If only violent videogames had been banned in Germany during Hitler's lifetime, we could have prevented the deaths of millions of people! Oh well, better late than never, huh Germany?
CEDE @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:42PM
What was Hitler's favorite game? Oh, right. There were no video games back then. Blaming video games has to stop and people need to face common sense.
People who have violent tendencies will act them out regardless of playing games or not. If you look at the number of people playing games and those out of that group who take violent action it's quite a skewed ratio.
Further more I would like to see a study looking into the other side of this. How many people don't go on killing sprees because of video games. It may be likely that taking out your frustration in a virtual realm alleviates the anger that could lead to cause a person harm.
Mr Khan @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:44PM
Jack Thompson apparently sent a letter to Obama requesting a total ban on M-rated games.
thus; http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=3223
Bissy Boy (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:07PM
I just read his letter.
The truly sad part about the whole thing is that he actually believes in championing this cause.
People are accountable for their own actions. Look at the great majority of gamers who never committ a violent crime.
Erluti @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:09PM
Then Obama said, "This dude practices law like he's from the special olympics, or something."
Kyle @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:33PM
Oh SNAP!
Brodo @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:14PM
He better get printing off one for Stephen Harper as well! Im sure obama has better things to be doing than banning games, Canada's primeminister im pretty sure just dicks around
heres an example:
http://thegrumpyowl.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/stephen-harper-kitten1.jpg
LMAO
ManekiNeko @ Mar 24th 2009 2:41AM
We'd all be churning butter for fun if Thompson had his way. First it's "I don't want to ban violent games for adults!", then it's "I want to ban violent games for everyone!", then it'll be "I want to ban games period." It's his little crusade, and he's never going to be happy until he takes it to its logical conclusion. Fortunately Obama's smart enough not to take the bait, even with all the desperate button-pushing in that letter.
MF Doom @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:45PM
WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO BREATHE
Dirty @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:52PM
we should kill them all.
ice~ @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:03PM
because of video games
Markez @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:04PM
Because that dog from Duck Hunt laughed at you when you were little.
BlazeKing @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:48PM
Ban violent video games?!
Ban the movies first, morons....
Oh, wait. They're not as violent as video games!
Bull****
Bissy Boy (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:48PM
People always want to justify peoples behavior on something external. As in if this kid never played a "killer game" that he wouldn't have done this act. Violence has been and will continue to be around forever. Instead of blaming the crazy fuck who actually did the atrocity lets say that the games made him do it.
Accountability people!
Robert @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:50PM
Was DOOM out in 1938?
WiredKnight @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:51PM
It's too bad these cowards always take their own life. It leaves us with no one to hold responsible, no one to answer our question "why!?"
Sev @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:51PM
TEH JACK THOMPSON OF GERMANNNYY!!!11!!1!2
Kevin949 @ Mar 23rd 2009 3:57PM
No comments on parenting yet?
Markez @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:03PM
They were banned.
Er, parents, that is. And comments about them. That was also banned.
Donald @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:01PM
Just more nonsense out of germany. I lived there for 6 years. People are the biggest bunch of pansies there are. Never blame the kids, look for an excuse for them. It's the way it always is there, just like it is with the blacks here. Blame someone else, and not the idiots that actually do the crimes.
gman2345 @ Mar 23rd 2009 8:40PM
wow.
Racist tendencies much...
Robert @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:02PM
No, but seriously, it seems like over the last few months/years citations of the negative influence of video games have been on the rise. Is this an issue we, as a community, should be concerned about? What is our move when enough elected officials decide that video games are a big enough "problem" to require federal regulation? See the CCA and restrictions placed on film in the early days. Hell, look at the persecutions of people who said the Earth was a sphere. I'm no conspiracy theorist or fanatic, I'm just wondering at what point we need to start getting worried about the purity of our medium... In closing, I just want to say that I am twenty and I love Animal Crossing on my DS.
ice~ @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:06PM
Honestly, we won't have to worry about it for a while, I honestly think the effects of video games on society is the LAST thing on our politicians minds...
Robert @ Mar 23rd 2009 4:03PM
How shiny is your scalp?
F1 @ Mar 23rd 2009 5:14PM
Really?
Wow your a moron.