The National Rifle Association is yet to speak about their release of an iOS app, ages four and up, that simulates a firing range with different virtual guns. U.S. politicians have slammed the release, which comes one month after the Newtown shootings – a month during which the NRA had blamed video games for the tragedy.
The release of NRA: Practice Range, while not allowing players to shoot people, runs directly opposite to the sensationalist line that video games teach young children to shoot guns. In the wake of its release, the age restriction of 4+ has come into question.
Senator Charles Schumer called for iTunes to reclassify the game as 17+, saying “The NRA has acted in an unbelievably hypocritical fashion by blaming the nation’s gun violence on video games and movies, then coming out with a game for children featuring assault weapons.”
Apple responded by raising the game’s recommended age – the game is now on iTunes as 12+.
“The PR, the stupidity of doing it, is just mind-boggling,” said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “It is the height of hypocrisy.”
There seems to be no further word from the NRA other than what has already been said on the game’s iTunes description:
NRA: Practice Range also offers a 3D shooting game that instills safe and responsible ownership through fun challenges and realistic simulations. It strikes the right balance of gaming and safety education, allowing you to enjoy the most authentic experience possible.
Bloomberg: New NRA Shooting App Is ‘Height Of Hypocrisy,’ ‘Mind-Boggling’ [CBS New York]
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