Terry's Peeps wrote:
Obama calls for research into link between video games, 'media images,' and violence
By BRIAN CRECENTE on Jan 16, 2013 at 11:57a
President Barack Obama today called
for the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention to conduct further research
into the relationship between video
games, media images and violence.
That Presidential Memorandum was
among 23 gun violence reduction
executive actions laid out this morning
during a nationally televised address.
Those actions, all of which are being
initiated today, include proposing bans
on "military-style" assault weapons and
high-capacity magazines, increasing
mental health services, making schools
safer and improving background
checks.
Addressing a packed room filled with
the press, victims of previous shootings
and children who have written to the
White House about the shootings,
President Obama acknowledged that
the road ahead would be difficult.
"If there's even one thing we can do to
reduce this violence, if there's even one
life that can be saved, then we have an
obligation to try it," he said. "I will put
everything I've got into this, and so will
Joe, but I tell you the only way we can
change is if the American people
demand it."
Video game industry officials,
researchers and executives were among
the last of the groups Biden met with.
In that meeting, those present told
Polygon, Biden stressed that he wasn't
singling out the video game industry
and that he came to the meeting with
"no judgment." On Monday, Biden
passed on his recommendations to
President Obama and 48 hours later the
President presented them to the
country.The broad measures come in
the wake of the Dec. 14 mass shooting
at the Sandy Hook Elementary School
which left twenty children and six
adult staff dead. Following the
shooting, President Obama asked Vice
President Joe Biden to form a task
force to examine how to decrease
violence in America. That process
included 22 different meetings with
220 different organizations, senior
White House administrative officials
tell Polygon.
For years, the CDC and other federally
funded scientific agencies have been
barred by Congress from using funds to
"advocate or promote gun control."
Some have argued that that ban
prevented the organizations from
conducting research into the causes of
gun violence. Today's Presidential
Memorandum on the topic looks to
discount that argument.
In the memorandum, the President is
directing the CDC and scientific
agencies to conduct research into the
causes and prevention of gun violence.
The memo, according to White House
officials, is based on new legal analysis
that found that such research would
not be barred. It calls for the CDC to
immediately start assessing existing
strategies for preventing gun violence
and identifying the most pressing
research questions. President Obama is
also calling for Congress to provide $10
million for the CDC to conduct new
research, including investigating the
relationship between video games,
"media images" and violence.
"Congress will fund research into the
effects that violent video games have on
young minds," President Obama said.
Entertainment Software Association
officials have not yet responded to
request for comment.
The White House didn't clarify
whether media images refers to movies
and television or something else or
how that research would be conducted,
though senior officials did note the
research would likely start in 2014.
Obama's 23 actions fell into four broad
categories: closing background check
loopholes to keep guns out of
dangerous hands, banning military-
style assault weapons and high-capacity
magazines and taking other "common-
sense steps" to reduce gun violence,
making schools safer and increasing
access to mental health services.
Ending the freeze on gun violence
research, which includes new research
into any link between video games and
gun violence, falls under the "common-
sense steps," according to White House
officials.
Other research suggested includes a
call to invest more money into the
existing National Violent Death
Reporting System. The system
currently collects anonymous data
when a firearm is used in homicides or
suicides.
"Along with our freedom to live our
lives as we will comes an obligation to
allow others to do the same," President
Obama said. "We don't live in isolation.
We live in a society, a government of,
by and for the people. WE are
responsible for each other.
"When it comes to protecting the most
vulnerable among us, we must act now.
Let's do the right thing. Let's do the
right thing for them and for
this country that we love so much."
More dumbness....
Oh, and could you format the article properly? Jesus H. Christ!
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Let's start blaming rap music too!
can help you out of this predicament. 