Despite giving no reason other than citing it being a precedent in a related case, Judge Jack Easton has banned two teens, 14 and 16, from owning or playing video games without parental permission. This sentence came down with sentences of probation and community service, because the Camrose teens stood by while their peers trapped a cat inside a microwave and burned it to death.
Even though the teens admitted to doing nothing to save the cat, still the judge dropped all of their charges of causing harm to the animal because he stated that the kids weren’t directly responsible for its death. The two teens were among the group who invaded a former friend’s home and assisted as they vandalized it while the family was on vacation.
Reasons for the video game banning weren’t given except that on the recommendations by medical officials even though there was no direct link found between the feline’s slaying and gaming.
A NHL game was included in this ban by the defense lawyer explaining that one of the teen’s liked to play it and he claimed it was violent. The judge then extended the ban to all video games without parental permission. The medical officials were contacted Monday regarding their recommendation to the judge; a response has not yet been received.
I don’t expect one either.
WTF?
Does anyone know of a game that includes nuking cats???
My word I hate the incompetents that are commonly called Humans.
Anyone else think crimes committed due to games should be punished by gamers?
We need gamer judges now!
I’d have the kids who killed the cat put under psychological evaluation, instead of banning them from video games.
Torturing small animals in childhood can actually be a sign of a potential serial murderer.
I’ve heard the same. Apparently it’s about enjoying taking life, and as the case with these kids they clearly at least didn’t mind hearing the screams of a poor cat.
And of course, gaming’s made the scapegoat. *rolls eyes*
@Dawn, you’re absolutely right. When will people stop blaming video games for the bad choices people do?
People once though the jitterbug was corrupting the minds of the younger generation. Movies can be just as violent as video games, but because they’re not interactive, they’re pretty much looked upon as simple escapism.