The NRA has shamelessly released an iOS app almost a month after the Newtown massacre and in opposition to Wayne LaPierre’s very own words. Drowning in irony thicker than maple syrup, the aforementioned CEO personifies the idiom “do as I say, not as I do” by creating a gun-oriented video game. My problem isn’t with the blatant hypocrisy that the NRA refuses to recognize, but with the game itself.
NRA: Practice Range promotes that it “instills safe and responsible ownership through fun challenges and realistic simulations.” Why bother creating a more realistic and educational shooter devoid of violence? Is an informative based shooting game less dangerous than, say, Halo?
No. Reason being, a game that actively works to educate the player on how to properly fire a gun, while offering “training tips,” is more likely to produce an individual that is capable of accurately firing a gun. Call of Duty doesn’t teach the players how to operate each of its weapons, nor should it. I get that education is a good thing, but encouraging consumers to learn from this cheap iOS app empowers the players to apply their learned skills in real life. As we all know, not every gun owner uses their guns in a shooting range or for hunting. By releasing this app for (initially) gamers four year old and older, one might argue that it’s a form of targeted indoctrination. I won’t, because it’s a bold claim, but do consider it.
That having been said, this game won’t make you a marksman. Honestly, you would probably shoot yourself before you hit the target, were you to learn how to wield a firearm using this game as an instruction manual.
According to a review on the App store, “[w]hatever you think about the NRA, this app is horrible. I was a competitive target shooter, both pistol and rifle, for many years and from a technical standpoint, this app is horrible. There is no sight alignment and trigger control associated with this shooting. It is just about blasting out bullets. No control required. Nothing learned. ”
Sorry, NRA, but if I want to learn about firearms and how to use them, I’m going to protect myself by taking a class instead of picking up tips and tricks from a video game.
I like how the targets look like people.
WTF? Words fail me. An app to teach gun safety or make me a more efficient mass murderer? But hey, that’s the NRA, don’t get a permit, don’t attend a class for gun use and safety. Just get that machine go and shoot, who cares where they land, or who gets taken out?