If Video Games Like Doom Cause Violence, Why Is Violent Crime Going Down?

By R. Brownell

The cult classic video game “Doom” is coming back for a series re-launch, with a vengeance!

Riddled with controversy since its debut in the early 90’s, “Doom” has been accused of being subliminal inspiration for such travesties as the Columbine Massacre in Colorado, and unleashing a metaphorical Pandora’s Box on the gaming industry with a flood of other violent games blamed for causing crimes;

According to The Independent:

Twitter user Anita Sarkeesian, who runs the Feminist Frequency game criticism site and account, wrote: “This level of extreme violence shouldn’t be considered normal. It’s not an excuse to say it’s expected because DOOM. That’s the problem.”

While certain aspects of ultra-violent video games marketed to teens and adults bother some people, others have taken situations where video games were in some way linked to violent outbreaks as mentioned earlier, to new extremes.

For example, Hillary Clinton put first-person shooter oriented games in her crosshairs during her final term as Senator back in 2005 when pushing the Family Entertainment Protection Act:

“We need to treat violent video games the way we treat tobacco, alcohol, and pornography…If you put it just really simply, these violent video games are stealing the innocence of our children — and it is certainly making the job of being a parent even more difficult”

While “Doom” will obviously be targeted by many who think video games of the same ilk should been banned, the fact remains time after time, that violent games and other first-person shooters do not have any correlation with increases in crime rates; If anything, society is better off because of them.

Violent Crime Offenses and Video Game
Sales, 1996-2004