Senate Republicans To Crackdown On Video Games, Not Guns, After Mass Shootings

Senate Republicans are looking into new legislation on regulating video games, while doing nothing about guns, after the latest round of mass shootings.

CNN reported:

McConnell urged Cornyn and the committee chairmen — Senate Health Chairman Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi — to look into whether new legislation is warranted that would meet the goals laid out in President Donald Trump’s Monday remarks and that could win bipartisan support.

According to the sources familiar with the discussions, Alexander plans to look into whether any new remedies are needed in ensuring those with severe mental health issues don’t have access to guns. Wicker will review whether any new legislation is needed in overseeing the content of violent video games, the sources said. Graham wants to advance so-called red flag legislation to empower localities to deny individuals access to guns if they pose a threat. Other legislative proposals could come out of these discussions as well, the sources said.

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Mitch McConnell has already ruled out allowing a vote on the House-passed bill to expand background checks, so it is clear that Republicans intend to do nothing about gun laws, but have found their scapegoat in video games.

More than 30 people died in two mass shootings in less than 24 hours, and the Republican Party has responded to the crisis by looking at possibly regulating video games.

A video game has never allowed a person to go on a mass killing spree. Video games aren’t the problem. Republicans have found their scapegoat for mass shootings as they are returning to the 1990s and blaming video games.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association