'School Shooter' Web Video Game

A Screen Shot from the 'School Shooter" Video Game

In the April 27, 2011 Ed Week this article on a new video game immediately grabbed my attention:  "'School Shooter' Web Video Game Raises Concerns".  I am the mother of a video game obsessed 6th grade boy. We have had many discussions in our house about which games Alex is allowed to play and which ones he is not.  This video game definitely falls into the "absolutely not" category.  According to the article, the game is set in a school, and the player stalks and shoots fellow students and teachers.  The player collects points by killing students and teachers.  The player also has the option of committing suicide after each level.  This game is actually modeled after the Columbine school shootings, where 13 people were killed, and the shootings at Virginia Tech where 32 people were shot.  I cannot think of anything more appalling or tasteless.  I agree with the critics of this game when they say that violence and death are not a game. The article also mentions a research study of more than 130 students that found that regular participation in violent gaming can increase aggressive behavior.  This is something that I as a parent have long felt intuitively, but it is good to finally have a research study to back me up.  Glamorizing and aestheticizing violence in schools is disgusting and sick.  The complete lack of sensitivity and empathy for the families of the Columbine and Virginia Tech victims is shocking to me.  I feel like this is an abuse of the protection of Free Speech guaranteed by our constitution.