GTA Blamed for Columbine-style Massacre Planning

bippy writes "A Miami attorney claims that a teen accused of plotting a massacre used GTA to prepare for the attack, RedAssedBaboon reports. Attorney Jack Thompson is the same guy who is trying to link the murder of Stefan Pakeerah last year to Manhunt. Pakeerah was beaten to death with a claw hammer by a friend who, Thompson claims, was inspired by Manhunt. The uproar surrounding the case led to the game being pulled from many British store shelves and Prime Minister Tony Blair looking into a link between violence and video games. It looks like Thompson has found himself a niche." Update: 10/10 19:25 GMT by T : Peter Endean writes "It might be worth noting that in fact in the case of the murder linked to Manhunt, it was the victim who owned the game."

Re:ban sticks

[Tyrdium]

Why stop there? Hell, people can use their hands to choke someone to death! We should chop off everyone's hands! Oh, but wait... Then they could use their arms as bludgeoning weapons... Lop those off, too! Hmmm, but they could still bite people... Off with their heads!

So...

[Dark Lord Seth]

If I print out the Patriot Act and beat someone to death with it...

Nice Friend

[jherekc]

All I can say is that the murderer was obviously *not that much of a friend* if he killed his so called "friend"

Re:The irony was

[cassidyc]

completly irrelevant anyway as the murder was drugs related....

But thems facts and that gets in the way of a rumour

sigh...

CJC

Re:So...

[Ty]

Bush will declare that whoever you beat was a terrorist and it was an effective tool for dealing with them.

Re:Crank

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the more important question, that everyone is failing to ask, is "what kind of stupid name is Peekarah"?

I mean, if you name your kid some wierd shit like that, you're just lining up him to be teased, taunted, tortured and maybe someday - killed. (What is he, a tiny yellow orange-dotted anime character that three year old kids collect?).

the crusades!

[focitrixilous P]

Turns out the crusades happened before violent media even existed, and lots of people died!

Re:some truths

[general_re]

...and the claim probably came from his parents or some shit anyway.

From his crazy lawyer. Jack Thompson, A/K/A "BatJack", apparently because he used to make public appearances in a Batman costume. Some of BatJack's prior hits here [reason.com]...

in other news...

[Anonymous Coward]

Pac-man Blamed for Obesity

did they check the medicine cabinet

[Anonymous Coward]

Officer 1: "Lieutenant, I searched the house, it appears to be clean. The only suspicious article I found was the boys prescription to prozac in the medicine cabinet. As many of us know, prozac has been found to cause psychotic and suicidal tendencies"

Lieutenant: "Officer Downing, may I remind you that the media is waiting in the front yard. Check the game console and stop wasting time"

Officer 1: "yes sir! hmmm, Looks like he was a fan of Mario Cart."

Officer 2: "Sir, his little sister has a copy of Grand Theft Auto in her Playstation!"

Lieutenant: "Call it in boys.. I'll be outside making a statement."

Logically

[Anonymous Coward]

in the case of the murder linked to Manhunt, it was the victim who owned the game.

One can thus conclude that he must have really sucked at it.

Why does it have to be blamed on something?

[bernardos70]

Chris Rock said it best "What happened to 'crazy?' What, you can't be crazy no more?"

Retribution?

[MerliSYD]

Since the teenager apparently stole the idea/drew inspiration to plot a mass murder, Rockstar Games should counter-sue the teenager for theft of intellectual property and breech of copyright.

Re:What's so special about police?

[uXs]

Ah ! But he didn't shoot the deputy. That's the difference !

In related news.....

[Anonymous Coward]

The board game chess has been blamed for the attempt on King James's life. "I can't believe it's legal to buy and sell this game", said one scotland yard official. "It's a regicide simulator, often requiring the player to mow down those protecting the King as well."