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Trump's Meeting With The Video Game Industry To Talk Gun Violence Could Get Ugly (washingtonpost.com)

Anonymous readers share a report: President Trump is set to pit the video game industry against some of its harshest critics at a White House meeting on Thursday that's designed to explore the link between violent games [Editor's note: the Washington Post article may be paywalled], guns and tragedies such as last month's shooting in Parkland, Fla. Following the attack at Marjory Stoneman High School, which left 17 students dead, Trump has said violent games are "shaping young people's thoughts." The president has proposed that "we have to do something about maybe what they're seeing and how they're seeing it." Trump has invited video game executives like Robert Altman, the CEO of ZeniMax, the parent company for games such as Fallout; Strauss Zelnick, the chief executive of Take Two Interactive, which is known for Grand Theft Auto, and Michael Gallagher, the leader of the Entertainment Software Association, a Washington-focused lobbying organization for the industry.

Three people familiar with the White House's planning, but not authorized to speak on the record, confirmed those invitees. A spokeswoman for the White House declined to share a full list of participants on Wednesday. ESA confirmed its attendance this week, but the others did not respond to questions. Opposite of them are expected to be some of the video-game industry's toughest critics, including Brent Bozell, the founder of the Parents Television Council, and Rep. Vicky Hartzler, a Republican from Missouri, the three people said. After another shooting -- the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. -- they each called on government to focus its attention on violent media rather than just pursuing new gun restrictions.

5 of 498 comments (clear)

  1. So... by RaymondInFinland · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Like someone else said on the internet:

    Real guns = Good
    Fake guns = Bad

  2. Trump thinks these sessions are good PR by sasparillascott · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The President thinks he's getting good visibility / PR with these free form live discussions where he can say whatever he wants (without following through on anything). I would expect the same with this one as was done with gun session and the dreamers sessions - and expect more of this. Echoing back to the Apprentice and him talking at the board room scenes....he probably really likes this - even if nothing gets done legislatively. He's getting back to being able to be on talk TV again.

  3. Re:A few thoughts by Calydor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Kids have always played variations of cops and robbers, cowboys and indians etc.

    The whole "I kill you so I win and you lose" game is as old as our species. We have adapted it into a new kind of entertainment with the same basic premise.

    How often do you see kids playing at raping each other compared to shooting imaginary fingerpistols at each other? Yes, even in Europe.

    --
    -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
  4. Re:Depends on if anyone is allowed to bring facts by Rakarra · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The studies are only "lacking" because they didn't come to the conclusion that the Family Research Council wanted to here.

  5. Re:Depends on if anyone is allowed to bring facts by Rakarra · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I am still astonished that people who refer to "Crooked Hillary" voted for Trump with a straight face.

    People who say "Crooked Hillary" all the time might not have voted for Trump.
    They might not even be eligible to vote in US elections.