Lawmaker Wants "Grand Theft Auto" Banned Over Carjackings

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An Illinois lawmaker is pushing to put a ban on the sale of "Grand Theft Auto" and other violent video games following a spike in carjackings.

The Grand Theft Auto series might be controversial but perhaps that's why it's one of the best-selling video game series of all time. Since its introduction in the late 90s, it's drawn much criticism from people who believe that it promoted crime and violence, influencing the youth to mimic some of the things they're able to do in the game itself. 

One Illinois lawmaker is now trying to make an example out of Grand Theft Auto along with other violent games in an attempt to ban them from being sold. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Rep. Marcus Evans Jr. is pushing to introduce a new bill that would ban certain games that showcase "psychological harm" such as "motor vehicle theft with a driver or passenger present." 

The introduction of the bill arrives in the wake of a spike of carjackings happening across Illinois. Evans suggested it was these games that have promoted violence and crime in the community. "The bill would prohibit the sale of some of these games that promote the activities that we’re suffering from in our communities," Evans said.

This arrived after Evans was reached out to by Early Walker who launched Operation Safe Pump, a company dedicated to preventing carjackings at gas stations and shopping centers. "I feel like this game has become a huge issue in this spectrum,” Walker said. “When you compare the two, you see harsh similarities as it relates to these carjackings.”

Do you think banning GTA and other video games will decrease carjackings? Sound off in the comments. 

 


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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