Gunnies stand up for Gamers

I grew up in the 80s and 90s, when satanism, drug use and suicide were attributed to Dungeons & Dragons and, later, heavy metal records. Later on, Columbine was incorrectly blamed on goth music and culture.

This is, of course, pure bullshit,  as evidenced by the fact that I do nothing harder than caffeine, am actively involved in my (Christian) church, and haven't shot anything more mobile than a stationary target.

So naturally, when public opinion rolls around to blaming TV and movies and video games, I'm one of the first to say "Bullshit! Why not try actually parenting your children, instead of letting the TV or the computer be your babysitter?"

I have yet to meet a gamer -- be it pen and paper, console, or PC -- who wants to ban guns or demonize gun owners. They understand far too well the BS prejudice being leveled against us just because our culture needs a scapegoat. Besides, I've always felt that the gamers of today are the gunnies of tomorrow, because anyone who grows up playing Call of Duty or similar games is going to eventually wonder what it's like to shoot a real one.

And now, in the wake of the Newtown shooting, Wayne LaPierre of the NRA has done exactly the same thing that has been done to NRA members: point fingers at another part of our culture in order to deflect blame from himself.

I'd make a "shooting himself in the foot" joke, but it would seem forced.

So in conclusion:

• We, the gun community, appreciate the gamer community.
• We think that Wayne LaPierre is wrong, wrong, WRONG to blame video games. 
• We stand by you, just as you've stood by us. 

Carry on and keep gaming.