Letter to the Editor: It's about the children
BY James L. Boatman, Claremore
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1/20/13 at 8:09 AM
My heart aches when I hear about another mass murder by some deranged individual as they abused their constitutional right to have and bear arms. Even more heartbreaking is the pathetic action by some well-meaning citizens to try to curb this violent behavior by putting restrictions on that constitutional right.
Some speculate that these despicable acts are motivated by the impact of violent movies and especially video games. A majority of these murderers did have an unhealthy obsession with violence as a result of viewing the violent acts depicted in video games and movies. Lack of regard for human life can often be the product of such viewing.
What is the solution? Gun control has never worked and it will not work in this case. Fifty-six million people were exterminated in the last 90 years because they were defenseless due to gun control. (Soviet Union, Turkey, Germany, China, Guatemala, Uganda and Cambodia, Eastern Europe.)
Regulation of movies and video games is as much an infringement of First Amendment rights as gun control is an infringement of Second Amendment rights. Regulation and government control is not the answer.
Breakdown of the family unit and lack of adult supervision is the root of the problem. Viewing of violent movies and video games should not be allowed in our homes and should be replaced by having meals together, family time, family devotion and prayer time.
Our children need us to listen. It is not about us and our careers, but them.
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