Should Violent Video Games be Banned

             Everyone has heard at least one rumor about how “violent video games make people more likely to kill someone else.” I disagree with this statement for one large reason, I have many friends that all play these video games and out of all of them only one of them has actually ever intentionally hurt another person. This kid has also been through a lot in his life; his parents were irresponsible and he was living with one of his college-age brothers. He hardly saw his parents and spent a lot of his time alone. He may have hurt someone but it was because he wasn't getting any attention at home and simply wanted people to notice him. These games may not directly cause violent tendencies in people but people have a good reason to believe that they do.
            These games all make war look like something that you come back from unchanged and unhurt. This may cause people to join the army think that it would be “cool” and maybe even “fun.” However, that is just about the only potentially bad thing that comes directly from playing these violent video games. People know that these games are meant as a way to waste time and begin playing them to fit in or simply to take a break from reality. However, I do agree with enforcing that only people 18 and older can play violent video games because young children may imitate what the character says or does due to the fact that they are still trying to figure out how the world works and what is or isn't okay for them to do.
             Most of the rumors being spread about violent video games only apply to young children because they still have a hard time telling what is wrong from what is right. As long as the video games are played only by the intended audiences the games won't cause any killing sprees or shootings. Do you think that these violent video games should be banned or should the restrictions be enforced more strictly?

Works Cited

"Pathways From Childhood Conduct Problems to Adult Criminality." Childhood Conduct Problems
             and Adult Criminality. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.              
             <http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/panko.html>.
"Violent Video Games & Aggressive Behaviors." Violent Video Games. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.
             <http://www.pamf.org/parenting-teens/general/media-web/violentgames.html>.