Wednesday, October 22, 2003

When did the concept of personal and parental responsibility disappear from our lives?
Ladies, gentlemen, and fellow Right Wing Wackos, after "Big Fast Food", we are now seeing the next iteration of "Big Tobacco" - and it is "Big Video Game". Blame video games for violence committed by stupid and reckless teenagers. I keep thinking that one day there is finally going to be a huge backlash against bullshit lawsuits like this. I just can't believe that it hasn't happened yet.


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A $246 million lawsuit was filed against the designer, marketer and a retailer of the video game series "Grand Theft Auto" by the families of two people shot by teenagers apparently inspired by the game.



The suit claims marketer Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., designers Take-Two Interactive Software and Rockstar Games, and Wal-Mart, are liable for $46 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages.


Aaron Hamel, 45, a registered nurse, was killed and Kimberly Bede, 19, of Moneta, Va., was seriously wounded when their cars were hit June 25 by .22-caliber bullets as they passed through the Great Smoky Mountains.


Stepbrothers William Buckner, 16, and Joshua Buckner, 14, of Newport, were sentenced in August to an indefinite term in state custody after pleading guilty in juvenile court to reckless homicide, endangerment and assault.


The boys told investigators they got the rifles from a locked room in their home and decided to randomly shoot at tractor-trailer rigs, just like in the video game "Grand Theft Auto III..."


There's more to it, but I think that you get the picture. We've also got a lady suing Sony because her Everquest-addicted son killed himself. Responsibility is no longer about being responsible for your own actions, and those of your children. It's about blaming a big evil corporation and shaking down whomever has the deepest pockets. Years of anti-individualism and class warfare indoctrination by our public school system and our mainstream media are definitely bearing fruit.

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