Trump is not a big fan of video games,
partly because the controllers are too big,
and also because he believes
they inspire real-world violence.
So this afternoon,
he summoned the heads of the video game industry
and their critics to a round table discussion.
Now, for a change, Trump decided to be camera-shy,
so there's no footage of this meeting,
although we here at The Daily Show
were able to get exclusive audio of what went down.
(video game beeping)
Ha, ha, ha.
(cheers and applause)
Now, Trump is hardly the first person
to blame gun violence, in part, on video games.
In fact, this has been an idea
that's been around for decades now.
This is the handheld implement
with which you play the game
-by shooting it at the screen. -(video game trilling)
Instead of enriching a child's mind,
these games teach a child to enjoy inflicting torture.
Of course, it affects our children,
and it affects our kids in a very negative way.
Yeah, you see, it turns out,
politicians have been warning about the dangers
of violent video games way back when.
I mean, like, this is back when games looked like this.
Remember this? Yeah?
To them, this was hyper-realistic violence.
I mean, to me, it looks like
you're pointing a dildo at a Nazi dance crew.
I don't... I don't see the violence.
Here's what I don't get about this argument.
How come video games are supposedly so influential,
but only when it comes to guns, all right?
'Cause, I mean, if they really were as influential
as politicians say,
then shouldn't games influence us with everything?
Like, as kids, we spent every day playing paper boy,
but that never inspired anyone to go out
and commit mass paper deliveries.
No one was like, "It's because of the games!
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"
(laughter)
And here's the thing.
There have been hundreds of studies on this issue,
and they have shown... they have shown
that there isn't any connection
between violent video games and violent activities.
Now, that doesn't mean that video games
have no influence on you, because, let's be honest--
everything we consume as human beings affects us somehow.
All right?
Sex and the City might make you want to go to brunch.
Uh, Karate Kid might have made people join the local dojo.
Hell, if it wasn't for Instagram,
I would have never gotten my butt implants, okay?
(laughter)
Yeah, I got it on the back 'cause I already had a real ass.
I just wanted another one. It's like...
'Cause two asses-- I mean, come on. Why not?
So, yes, I agree that video games can affect your behavior,
but so can TV and movies, and I mean, hell,
there's even violence in the Bible.
Mother(bleep) killing people with jawbones in there.
Like, you can't take violence out of the world.
What you can do is limit the tools violent people have,
all right, which is exactly what they've done in Japan.
-(rapid gunfire) -MAN: The Japanese
play many of the same violent video games that we do.
In 2015,
gaming revenue in Japan was over $12 billion,
behind only the United States and China.
Japan has some of the strictest gun laws in the world.
In 2015, this nation of 127 million counted
only one gun murder.
Wow. Only one gun murder.
That is impressive.
And I'm sorry, but if you're the only gun death in a country
of 127 million people, you-you probably deserve it.
I'm just saying. I'm just saying.
(laughter)
Look, man, the truth is,
many countries around the world have figured this out.
The most effective and realistic way to limit gun violence is
to regulate who has access to guns.
And while the president is talking about video games,
interestingly enough,
lawmakers in Florida have decided to take action.
MAN: New state gun legislation is headed to the desk
of Florida Governor Rick Scott this morning
after last month's deadly school shooting in Parkland.
MAN 2: The bill raises the minimum age
for buying firearms to 21,
imposes a three-day waiting period for gun purchases,
bans bump stocks,
and establishes new mental health programs in schools.
I'm gonna say a sentence that I'm assuming
has never before been uttered on this show.
Well done, Florida.
(cheers and applause)
Well done.
I mean, usually the news coming out of Florida is like,
"Man arrested for threesome with two rattlesnakes."
(laughter)
So this is a step in the right direction.
Now, the bill does do one other thing
that might not be as popular.
WOMAN: The most controversial provision
in this legislation is the marshal program.
That's a program that would allow teachers
and other school personnel to be armed
as long as they go through training.
In this case, 144 hours of training.
Yup, Florida teachers about to get strapped!
Yeah, which means
that kids are gonna be a lot more engaged in class.
Gonna be like, "Who wants to answer the next question?
"Wow. A lot of hands up, a lot of hands going up.
Two hands! Look at you! Yeah!"
(laughter)
Here's what I find interesting about this law, all right?
Florida lawmakers have decided
that the teachers, the people they trust with their kids,
need to meet strict standards before they can carry a gun.
Right? 144 hours of training,
and passing a psychological exam,
and random drug tests,
and additional training every year, which makes sense.
But when it comes to anyone outside of the school,
they go, "Yeah, just give that random dude a gun.
I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Right?
I feel like you guys were so close to figuring this out.
Just take that same law, cross out "teachers,"
and write in "everyone."
-Problem solved. -(applause, whooping)
Why doesn't everyone have to go through those same steps?
It makes sense.
So, uh, if you'll excuse me,
I've been playing a ton of Angry Birds,
so I've got to go outside and throw some pigeons at pigs.