Ok here it goes.
Video games are being attacked and scrutinized because of things that have happened in the past.
ex)Columbine - Both of the attackers played FPS games, I think Quake or Doom or something.
ex)Virginia Tech shooting.
There have been several occasions across the entire U.S. where a kid has killed another kid, or severely wounded another kid because they were doing something stupid. And they always give the same reason "I saw it in a video game."
Video game hating is the biggest and easiest band wagon to jump on right now. There will always be something that someone is hating on. Unfortunatley video games are in the sniper scope right now.
After saying that let me voice my personal opinions on the matter. True there are no laws that state you have to be 17 to buy an R rated movie, or go see an R rated movie in theaters. However stores that sell the movies, and movie theaters have made it a standard that if you arent old enough, your out of luck. Stores that sell video games SHOULD follow the same standards if only to cover their rear ends.
If a parent wants to buy their under 17 year old kid a M rated video game because they think their kid is mature enough to handle it, and they know that their kid realizes its only a video game. Then that is awesome, kudos to the parents that are involved in their kids lives like that. Frankly there are not enough of those types of parents. The biggest problem is parents who are just buying the game, and not monitoring what type of game it is. Many a time have I been in a game shop and seen a parent tell there kid to go pick out a video game not caring what it is. They are just happy that their kid has found something that will keep them out of their hair and babysit them. You can always tell these types of kids when you play with them online. Theyre the ones with the squeaky voices, yelling obscenities, and screaming about how much better at the game they are than you. I make it a point when playing with those kids to give them a chance to stop the nonsense, and if they dont I subsequently make them cry.
Now in no way shape or form am I saying that video games cause people to do violent things. I am keen in believing that if your doing something bad, you know that your doing it.