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Grand Theft Auto Led Teen to Kill

Posted by Zonk on from the personal-responsibility-is-for-old-people dept.

Varg Vikernes writes "FOXNews reports on a lawsuit that claims the video game 'Grand Theft Auto' led a teenager to shoot two police officers and a dispatcher to death in 2003, mirroring violent acts depicted in the popular game. 'What has happened in Alabama is that four companies participated in the training of Devin... to kill three men,' attorney Jack Thompson told The Tuscaloosa News, which reported the suit's filing. Thompson is also filing suit against Wal-Mart, Gamestop, Take-Two and Sony." Gamespot has coverage of this story as well. Thompson has made something of a career out of lawsuits of this nature.

6 of 1,311 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Americans need to get themselves straight.. by neoThoth · · Score: 4, Informative

    RTFA! The kid took the gun from the police officer. Unless you're trying to argue that the police shouldn't have guns your post and all the ones under it should be modded way the hell off topic.

  2. Re:I'm pissed. by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, if you were the judge and it was a jury case (which it certainly will be) then you wouldn't have so much power over it. As a judge, your job is (as my understanding goes, not being a lawyer or anything) is to uphold the law. So if the case is being made properly, it's up to the jurors to make that decision. As a judge, you'd simply be overseeing things.

    Judges are supposed to be impartial and fair, but juries are easily swayed by a convincing lawyer. That's why people use character, sympathy, the press, etc. to make their cases.

  3. Re:I'm pissed. by daVinci1980 · · Score: 5, Informative
    He's just doing his job, which is getting his client off the hook.

    No he isn't. He isn't a lawyer for the kid, or the kid's family. He's a lawyer for the victims' families, and this is a civil suit.

    I suspect what's really going on here is that a lawyer with an agenda has convinced grieving families of victims that big media is to blame for their loss. He's trying to shutdown violent video games, like he tried to shutdown gangster rap before that and Madonna before even that.

    However, Jack Thompson has tried this before. He's failed every time. I'm confident that he will fail again this time.
    --
    I currently have no clever signature witicism to add here.
  4. Re:Americans need to get themselves straight.. by Stealth+Potato · · Score: 4, Informative
    That's a common misconception; the prefatory clause "A well regulated militia..." does not alter the fact that "the right of the people" refers to a right of the people in general. The second amendment does not require that persons be a member of the militia in order to bear arms. Also, do not confuse the "Militia" with the United States Military, or the National Guard. Very different things. :-)

    I would recommend reading this.

    It's a moot point anyway. If you're a male United States citizen between the ages of 17 and 45, you are a member of the United States militia. I refer you to USC Title 10, Chapter 13, Section 311.

  5. Re:I'm pissed. by Clay+Pigeon+-TPF-VS- · · Score: 5, Informative

    A judge can very easily sway a jury, with special instructions. Also, a judge can entertain motions for directed judgement and motions on the eligibility of evidence. A judge can make or break a case, even when it is a jury trial.

    --
    Viral software licensing is not freedom, it is in fact GNU/Socialism.
  6. Re:How'd he do it? by nalav · · Score: 5, Informative

    When I was arrested, they did keep me cuffed. They checked their guns when they got me inside. There was no special locked in area though to unload me from the car in. I'm sure this varies from state to state though. However, there was no way in hell I could have gotten away, stole a gun, shot some cops, and stole the car. Or even got away. Whoever brought the kid in was obviously sleeping for that to happen.