Violent Video Games Do Not a Terrorist Make

Taking an old page out of the play book, pro-gun people are saying once again that violent video games are to blame when it comes to terrorists*.

*Firstly, let’s clarify once again, shooters are in fact terrorists. The color of your skin does not absolve you from becoming a terrorist, even if the US has a hard time accepting this fact. 

Now that we got that out of the way, let me save you the trouble of making new arguments:

· Heavy metal music doesn’t make a terrorist

· Violent video games don’t make a terrorist

· Violent movies don’t make a terrorist

· Violent books or being a fan of violent sports (Boxing/MMA) don’t make a terrorist
 

How do I know this? Because I love heavy metal music, know the satisfaction of getting bonus points for a headshot or performing a fatality in a videogame, have watched highly violent movies like Fight Club, A Clockwork Orange, and the SAW franchise, am a huge fan of boxing and watch MMA yet I am completely in favor of stricter gun laws and measures to try and remedy the current situation we are living.

Oh, Jesus is also not the answer, because although I grew up Catholic, I currently identify myself as agnostic, which isn’t the same as atheist but if you want to think that just to make the conversation easier, then by all means, call me atheist. The point I’m trying to make is that even though I’ve consumed all the things people want to blame instead of looking for remedies to the situation and do believe in Jesus but do not go to church, I’m not even remotely drawn to owning or firing a gun. And let me be clear, I’m not here to vote for surrendering guns or stripping people of their right to legally and responsibly purchase and own guns. I know a LOT of people who own guns and many of them honestly own more guns than I think they need, but that’s opinion, and we’re not here to talk about opinions. 

We’re here to talk about facts.

Fact: I am not a terrorist.

Fact: I don’t own a gun.

Fact: I don’t want to own a gun.

Fact: I love heavy metal music. Heaviest band I listen to is Meshuggah. Have a listen and let me know if you need something heavier or scarier to make my point. After all, I want you to know that no matter what I’ve listened to, that has not made me a violent person.

Fact: I’m Hispanic, Puerto Rican to be specific. Gun violence in Puerto Rico is through the roof and still I favor stricter gun laws.
 

And those are the ones that are related to me. Now some other facts.

 

There have been studies made to determine the effects of video games, pornography, social status, financial situation, race, ethnicity, religion, and several other factors in regards to countless things. They have been allowed and funded, yet somehow, in depth studies in regards to gun violence are apparently blocked incessantly. This isn’t a matter of opinion, this is fact. 

Although it’s debatable whether or not Albert Einstein actually said that “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”, the truth in that statement rings true. We’ve studied several other things and are not finding answers that can help us address the situations we are facing. My question is what will it take to make in depth studies of gun violence to see if maybe we find some answers.