LANSING – Genesee County's Democratic Representatives today denounced a new video game in which the goal is to kill police officers and urged all Michiganians, from parents to public officials, to sign a nationwide petition calling for a boycott of "25 to Life."
"Our children should learn to respect the law and our police officers, not learn to kill them in a video game," said Rep. Paula Zelenko (D-Burton). "We support our officers and Michigan must denounce games like '25 to Life' in the strongest terms possible."
Rep. John J. Gleason (D-Flushing) said: "Police officers put their lives on the line every day so we can have safer communities. They stand on the front lines in our fight against crime. Let's stand together with our law enforcement officers and reject games like '25 to Life.' "
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is circulating a petition urging the public to boycott "25 to Life." The petition campaign calls on parents and caregivers to keep children away from the game, which gives players points for killing law enforcement officers and encourages them to also use bystanders as human shields. Maker Eidos began distributing the game in January.
House Democrats have introduced a resolution calling on the Michigan House to support the NLEOMF petition boycotting "25 to Life."
The online petition can be signed at: www.nleomf.com/25tolife/.
"Games like '25 to Life' that encourage our kids to shoot and kill police officers are not entertainment, they are the worst kind of garbage," said Rep. Brenda Clack (D-Flint). "It is an outrage and a slap against the brave men and women who serve in uniform and help keep communities like Flint safe."
Rep. Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) said: "We are sending a strong signal that reprehensible video games like '25 to Life' are not welcome in our homes and in the hands of our kids."
In 2004, 153 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in the United States, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Around 17,000 are injured on average each year nationwide.