British MP Asks for Debate on Video Game Effects before Christmas

Keith Vaz, who is a member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, has asked fellow politicians to engage in a significant debate about the effects of video games on children as more and more parents are preparing to give popular titles as gifts for Christmas.

The politician asked, “Could we have a debate next week about the harmful effects of violent video games?”

He added, “At a time when parents are thinking of purchasing video games for Christmas, does the right honorable Gentleman not think that it is important to hold a debate on this matter? This is not about censorship—it is about protecting our children.”

Unfortunately, the MP undermined his own point by basing his request on research from the University of Indiana which was found to have been funded by an anti-gaming group.

Previously Vaz asked for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 to be restricted from sale because it depicted terrorist attacks on London that were very close to what happened in real life.