Gov. Hickenlooper Putting Blame On Video Games For Shootings

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is all to familiar with mass shootings and has recently been outspoken about toughening our gun laws and even going as far to say video games may have something to do with these violent episodes.

Friday morning in Newtown, Connecticut it became a nightmare to many as a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 20 students and 7 adults including his own. There have been many talks of gun control lately coinciding with recent shootings including an Oregon Mall and an Aurora movie theater.

Our own Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has had a change of pace after earlier this year saying that "stricter gun laws would not have prevented the Aurora shooting." Earlier this week the Governor commented on Colorado gun control laws and their need to be rethought and strengthened.

In a CNN interview Gov. Hickenlooper is now suggesting that the use of the high powered assault weapons in the recent shootings could be connected to video games and the media's "culture of violence."

"There might well be some direct connection between people who have some mental instability and when they go over the edge - they transport themselves, they become part of one of those video games," Hickenlooper said, "Perhaps that's why all these assault weapons are used."

Hickenlooper has reached out to the families and victims of the recent Connecticut shooting by saying "We know exactly how they feel... our hearts are breaking here for them."

Colorado has spent nearly $20 million according to Gov. Hickenlooper in educating and supporting those with mental illnesses which could help recognize those with "dangerous symptoms."

"That's something we can do immediately without getting into some of the battles of gun legalization or restricting access to guns," he said, though acknowledging the "discussion of gun safety is going to continue."

[PoliticalTicker]