Connecticut group wants to destroy your violent video games

A community group in Connecticut is asking for residents to bring in their violent video games, movies and music for disposal, in exchange for a gift certificate.

The town of Southington, Connecticut will be inviting residents to bring in games they view as too violent for their children to play in order to get rid of them. While the group organizing the January 12 event, SouthingtonSOS, says that the Violent Video Games Return Program isn’t meant to place blame on the video game industry for the horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, organizers do say they hope it will prompt parents to become more aware of what their children are playing.

“There are youngsters who appear to be consumed with violent video games,” Southington School superintendent Joe Erardi told Polygon. “I’m not certain if that’s a good thing. If this encourages one courageous conversation with a parent and their child, then it’s a success.

“We’re suggesting that for parents who have a child or children who play violent video games, to first of all view the games. We’re asking parents to better understand what their child is doing. Have a conversation about next steps. If parents are comfortable (with their child’s gaming habits), we’re comfortable.”

[ Related: New Sandy Hook school opens after attack ]

A statement released by SouthingtonSOS adds that the event should be “construed as a statement declaring that violent video games were the cause of the shocking violence in Newtown on December 14^th.”

Any parent in the area who does decide that his or her child’s video game, movie or music is too violent can bring the media to the local drive-in movie theatre on January 12, where the disc will be snapped and tossed into a dumpster, then likely incinerated. In exchange, the local Chamber of Commerce has collected $25 gift certificates from various businesses in the area offering what could be considered more “wholesome” entertainment, like a visit to the local water park.

Erardi posted about the event on his official blog as part of the Southington Public Schools website.

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary took place nearly one month ago, seeing the lives lost of 28 people including 20 children. The announcement of the Violent Video Games Return Program came the day before Sandy Hook’s students returned to the classroom, albeit at a different location from the original Sandy Hook Elementary.

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