You and I both likely believe in the freedom of Americans to carry weapons for personal and family protection as governed by the US Bill of Rights. That is never the issue here on this blog – what we’re more concerned with is the use, storage, and safety of gun use.

Here is an interesting story about how something so surprisingly simple have has contributed to one of the great tragedies of our time. Few people have a major problem with the prevalence of gun-heavy video games. Kids play them all the time – first it was Deer Hunter, then James Bond, now things like Call of Duty make virtual shooting ever more realistic.

Well, there may actually be a deeper, darker side to these video games that we previously thought – only, surprisingly, it might not have much to do with the kids who so commonly play these games. It has come to light that the Norwegian man responsible for the recent bombing and shooting crime may have used Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to help train for his subsequent shooting at a political youth camp. He wrote in his inane manifesto published online just before the attacks that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was “part of my training-simulation.” He wrote that Modern Warfare 2 was ideal for target practice and training. Australian Newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australian lawmakers are taking this information to heart and are calling for an 18 and over age restriction on video games that are excessively violent
As with all gun owners, we need to strive to be safe and respectful of weapons. In no way, should Anders Behring Breivik be looked up to in any way. He is a disgusting, irresponsible, and deluded man who used guns and shooting as a failed excuse for political protest. While we must be careful with guns that we have around the house with the use of gun safes, it is equally important that we teach our children and friends that gun ownership comes with a profound responsibility to keep others out of harm by storing and using guns safely and only when necessary for protection or in tightly controlled circumstances.