Yesterday, the NRA released Practice Range, a free iOS app that lets you choose from multiple guns, then practice aiming and shooting them at targets using the iPhone's built-in tilt sensor. Judging by the outraged response from all corners of the media, the release wasn't a brilliant PR move for one of the country's largest lobbying groups.
And yet the NRA has already had some success at shifting the conversation away from "guns" and back to violent video games. The new app also fits that strategy and, in doing so, might actually do more good than harm for the NRA.
All variations of mental illness are still greatly misunderstood and little is really known about them, let alone how to cure or even control them. There is great stigma attached to mental illness that prevents us from properly handling someone affected and this can get in the way of seeking treatment, support and proper care.
It is also this stigma that seemingly prevents us as a society from being able to see the real underlying problem, so we look for something simple to blame. It’s not books, films, games or guns that physically harm human beings, it’s other human beings.
Vagary's Tony gives his take on Obama's planned CDC study on violence in media, Gas Powered Games going all in on Kickstarter, and the NRA making their own first person shooter.
I didnt elect a brotha to tell me what to do.... I elected you to make it possible for another black president!
even some jews supported hitler!
WC: After the horrific events in Connecticut that saw 26 lives taken at a picturesque elementary school, the question of whether video games can induce violence in an individual has reared it’s head again. The biggest claim against the industry was by the NRA who partially blamed “vicious, violent videogames”.
While perhaps not viscous or violent, the NRA have come off looking more than a little hypocritical as they have released a new iOS game called NRA: Practice Range which places the player in a shooting range. The product description introduces the product as, “Meet NRA: Practice Range – the National Rifle Association’s new mobile nerve center, delivering one-touch access to the NRA network of news, laws, facts, knowledge, safety tips, educational materials and online resources.” The game was originally billed as suitable for ages 4 and up, since the controversy has been shifted to 12 and up.
I think it is possible to see the NRA’s reasoning behind the game. By including information about laws, safety ‘tips’ and educational material, they are trying to educate players about gun safety so perhaps more ‘accidents’ could be avoided. But that leaves a huge question standing. Is normalisation of weapons really the right way to go? Do you want your child having been taught about how to ‘use’ or ‘handle’ a gun safely? That is where my strong opposition comes into it.
