Vidgame Biz Releases Statement on Shootings

After Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) proposed a study of the effect of videogame violence on children, the industry's trade association issued a statement today after remaining silent following the shootings in Connecticut.

Other lawmakers, like Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) have suggested that a national commission be created and include violence in entertainment on its agenda.

The statement from the Entertainment Software Assn., however, cautions that
the search for solutions "must consider the broad range of actual factors that contributed to this tragedy." The org noted that "extensive research has shown no connection between entertainment and real-life violence."

The ESA's full statement is below:

“The Entertainment Software Association, and the entire industry it represents, mourns the
tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the
families who lost loved ones, and to the entire community of Newtown.

“The search for meaningful solutions must consider the broad range of actual factors that may
have contributed to this tragedy. Any such study needs to include the years of extensive
research that has shown no connection between entertainment and real-life violence.”