Keith Vaz calls for 'closer scrutiny of aggressive FPS games'

Labour MP goes on the attack again

Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, has renewed his campaign against violent games.

Vaz requested that the House of Commons hold a debate on violent games, slammed European classification body PEGI, and called for tighter restrictions on content.

As reported by Edge, the source of Vaz's inspiration is Anders B

ehring Breivik, who's currently standing trial for the murders of 76 people in Norway last year, and referenced both World of Warcraft and Call of Duty in his testimony.

Vaz asks:

That this House is reminded of the consequences of the ineffectual Pan European Game Information (PEGI) classification system for video games following the testimony of Anders Breivik about the tragic events in Norway in July 2011; notes that in his submission of evidence to the court Breivik describes how he trained for the attacks using the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare; is disturbed that Breivik used the game to help hone his `target acquisition' and the suggestion that the simulation prepared him for the attacks; is concerned that PEGI as a classification system can only provide an age-rating and not restrict ultra-violent content; recognises that in an era of ever-more sophisticated and realistic game-play more robust precautions must be taken before video games are published; and calls on the Government to provide for closer scrutiny of aggressive first-person shooter video games.

In November last year Vaz tabled an Early Day Motion calling for the BBFC to tighten its rating restrictions. He also used it to link terrorist activities in Modern Warfare 3 with the July 7, 2005 London bombings.