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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