Posted on 01/15/2013 12:04:04 PM PST by VRWCmember
Just a few short weeks ago, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said America needs to consider the impact violent video games and movies can have on our children. He specifically noted “vicious, violent video games, with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, and Splatterhouse.” And LaPierre is correct in many ways. The NRA came out during a time in which guns were being given a crazy amount of attention and brought light to a few of the issues that were not being given an appropriate amount of attention, such as mental health issues and entertainment violence.
However, it does not appear that the NRA is doing themselves any favors with their newest move of releasing a first person shooter game called” NRA: Practice Range.”
Now, however, the NRA is offering its own self-branded video game for free to the public: “NRA: Practice Range,” which is available for free on the iPhone and iPad. The game is rated for ages four and up…In addition to news, the app also has “a 3D shooting game that instills safe and responsible ownership through fun challenges and realistic simulations. It strikes the right balance of gaming and safety education.”
The game is not 100 percent similar to the violent games LaPierre condemned after the Newtown shooting, but this is a PR nightmare any way you look at it. Sure, there are no people-targets to shoot, but it’s a first person shooting game, released by the organization that just made a gigantic public speech about first person shoot-em-up games, debuting one month after a massacre for which many Americans blame the NRA. I know this game is supposed to be about gun safety, but I’m just not sure there’s an app to replace that.
The NRA could have done themselves – and responsible gun owners worried about their Second Amendment rights – a huge favor by saying that they were going to start a national campaign to educate Americans about gun safety, or by donating funding to mental health awareness. But instead they release a video game that is virtually the same thing they just condemned.
Marketing – I’m not saying don’t release the video game that does have good gun safety intentions, but part of a marketing strategy is timing, and I can assure you that the NRA has ruffled some feathers they would not have ruffled if they had simply waited a little bit. This will probably not really affect any legislation, but it will not help get any more people on the NRA’s side.
UPDATE:
Many commenters are upset with this post. I didn’t make my ultimate point as clear as I should have.
I wholeheartedly stand behind the Second Amendment. Guns have been a part of my life since I was a small child sitting next to my father and grandfather in duck blinds, deer stands, and shooting ranges. I have shot these “assault rifles” countless times, and have gone through the formal and informal gun safety courses both in and out of class rooms. I don’t want guns to be banned in any way.
There are many people in Congress that are running their mouths about things they don’t know about. They act like an assault weapons ban and limitations on magazine size will magically cure America of all its problems, and they are speaking with a very loud microphone at the American people. Because of this, the NRA needs the absolute most amount of support it can get right now.
The NRA’s main goal right now should be to garner support for and from responsible gun owners. I’m just not sure releasing this game is the best way to do that. Sure, it was well intentioned, but it invites the sort of criticism that defenders of the Second Amendment don’t necessarily need at the moment. Just look at the cover of this New York Daily News publication. Do you think this helps or hurts the NRA’s cause?
Like I said in the original post, the NRA could have done a few things differently to win over the American public. They could have embarked on a nationwide ‘NRA Gun Safety Tour’ in order to promote the Second Amendment and responsible gun ownership. Instead, they released a video game that is getting terrible reviews and that has opened themselves up for criticism.
I, for one, wish there was a headline story on the New York Daily News that had a positive story about the NRA and all they do for responsible gun ownership.
The game is not 100 percent similar to the violent games LaPierre condemned after the Newtown shooting, but this is a PR nightmare any way you look at it. Sure, there are no people-targets to shoot, but it’s a first person shooting game, released by the organization that just made a gigantic public speech about first person shoot-em-up games, debuting one month after a massacre for which many Americans blame the NRA. I know this game is supposed to be about gun safety, but I’m just not sure there’s an app to replace that.Not 100%? No joke! This game is a SHOOTING RANGE game, sort of like the shooting range in the old video game "Duck Hunt". There is NO VIOLENCE. There is NO targeting of people. It is strictly a target practice simulator. To suggest any conflict between LaPierre's criticism of games simulating violence against people and the release of this target shooting and educational game is just plain stupid.
The NRA could have done themselves – and responsible gun owners worried about their Second Amendment rights – a huge favor ... But instead they release a video game that is virtually the same thing they just condemned.Come on man! Virtually the same thing they just condemned?! Get a clue. This is NOTHING like the games they are criticing. Give me a BREAK!
“controversial” how, exactly?
Could you imagine the hot water Nintendo would be in right now if they released another Duck Hunt game..I still have the gun..shooting ducks with a replica gun..Bloomberg would be crapping his pants..its funny how people with NO LIVES can sit around looking for something to get “Outraged” about..its a VIDEO GAME
I remember a game from over 25 years ago, in a bar, where you paid a quarter to try to shoot a duck with a little remote. The duck would fly across the screen, and you were to point your remote at it and shoot it. If you hit it, your trusty little retreiver would bark and head out to retreive your duck. What was so funny was how everybody would shoot the dog.....
Why would anyone push this story without verifying some simple facts first?
The “seller” of this App in the Apple iPhone App store is shown as “MEDL Media, Inc.” MEDL Media is an “alliance” that allows app developers to submit apps nearly anonymously and MEDL Media puts them in the Apple App store.
Why would anyone believe this was actually distributed by the NRA? And why would the media push this story without verifying that this App actually came from the NRA. As far as I can tell, it didn’t. It is very likely the developer stole the NRA logos and put those logos on an unauthorized app.
We had the home version for Nintendo of that Duck Hunt game.
Among the levels it had in addition to the ducks were some practice range sessions that had rotating profile targets that would appear and you had to shoot them quickly, also a skeet range, and knock-down plates.
NBCNews.com Gives Readers Incomplete, Misleading Story on New NRA Shooting Range App
They've had the opportunity to do exactly that for decades, but haven't. I have figured out why they haven't and never will. The detest the NRA and gun owners.
Well, since the gun-grabbers are much more afraid of evil scary guns than they are of actual violent criminals, there is no difference between a gun shooting a paper target or a knock-down plate or a clay pidgeon and a gun shotting a person. Therefore, in the mind of a liberal gun-grabber, a game simulating a shooting gallery or practice range is "nearly identical" to a game simulating brutal murder of women and children.
There is absolutely NOTHING the NRA can do to obtain support from those on the side of banning firearms. NOTHING! Waiting to release the shooting range app for six months, a year, 10 years would mean nothing to those who want to abolish the 2nd Amendment. There is nothing good that the NRA and 2nd Amendment supporters can do that strengthens the position of protecting gun rights in the eyes of these morons. The individual who wrote this column may be a 2nd Amendment advocate, but he certainly isn’t behaving like one.
That's perfect.....nice shot TNW
That's perfect.....nice shot TNW
You're true in that respect but this article and all others out there are intended to marginalize the NRA and drive a wedge between them and their fence sitting supporters.
There's even a number of members here who have historically spoken out against the NRA, several actually calling for people to cancel their memberships........
What games did Cain play?
Anything from the NRA is “controversial” in the eyes of a liberal.
That’s why I said the author of the column isn’t behaving like he supports the 2nd Amendment. This is the same problem that the GOP has had for the past 8+ years. There are way too many instances of violating Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment. We have got to stop shooting ourselves (no pun intended) in the foot. Liberals do not need our help in supporting them.
Duck Hunt was a classic game..can you imagine if PETA were around..oh the horror, killing ducks!! and then the dog pops up and he’s laughing(When you miss)
That confirms it. Gun control advocates are homos.
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