Gaming as a Tool for Shooters

An everliving topic in America is the debate about violence in video games. This time around though the topic isn't mainly about how video games are causing violence but how they are also an avenue for training in being able to use guns. An article was written for CNN by Jeremy Bailenson talking about how virtual reality games, commonly known as VR games, could be and have been used to train a potential mass shooter on the inner workings of a gun. These methods are absurd when considered how much it would cost to purchase VR equipment that could properly simulate a real gun. If a potential shooter truly wanted to practice, or have anything related to guns, they could easily buy paintball or airsoft rifles online that simulate a real gun much more effectively. It is an obvious fact that many children play violent video games, even rated M games can be easily found and obtained by kids who do not meet the rated age requirements. These children are not just white as well and are not limited by race. Obtaining violent games can be done by almost anyone who has access to a computer or gaming console. Even though we know this we see a disproportionate amount of shooters being white, even though there are a lot of gamers who aren't white. Evidence, as suggested in an article written by Pew Research Center, shows that gamers are multiple races and not just white.

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/05/opinions/video-games-shooting-opinion-bailenson/index.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/violent-movies-games-may-not-trigger-real-life-violence-after-all/

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/17/views-on-gaming-differ-by-race-ethnicity/

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