Reaction on violent video game study

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico's congressional leaders weighed in on President Obama's request for money to research a link between  video games, media images and violence.

The White House justifies the increase in funds for the Centers for Disease Control to conduct the research by saying that 30,000 firearm-related deaths occur each year, enough to make it a public health crisis.

New Mexico Representative Ben Ray Lujan's office released the following statement to News 13.

"We need to have a serious discussion about the many factors that contribute to gun violence in our communities, and that includes examining if there are links between violence in various types of media and the senseless acts of violence that have occurred. I am encouraged that President Obama is taking action to promote research on the causes and prevention of gun violence, and I support funding efforts that can provide vital information about how we should move forward with the most effective public policy."

Representative Steve Pearce also said the following in a written statement.

"While I agree with the President that the consequences of violence in our culture need to be closely examined, one of the complaints government-funded research has been that it sometimes is carried out to support a predetermined view. Research in this area needs to be carried out in the most unbiased, scientific, and neutral manner possible, and the federal government has proven its tendency to influence the research it funds."

The White House estimates the cost for the video game research alone to be around $10-million.
In all, the president's plan features 23 executive orders focusing on gun violence.