Jack Thompson Sues Omaha Police Chief over Mall Rampage Records

Jack Thompson Sues Omaha Police Chief over Mall Rampage Records

December 28, 2007
Three weeks ago, a disturbed young man named Robert Hawkins killed eight people along with himself during a rampage at Omaha's Westroads Mall.

While most of those searching for a cause have focused on Hawkins' mental health history and troubled past, Miami attorney Jack Thompson sees a video game connection.

Of course.

Thompson contacted GamePolitics today to say that he was filing a lawsuit against Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren (left) in regard to the case. Apparently the cops in Omaha haven't been impressed by Thompson's video game theories and the controversial attorney wants to force the issue. In his court filing, Thompson writes:
These [rampages] have occurred, in part... because of the advent of extremely violent interactive media (video games) consumed by adolescents and teens who use these murder simulation devices to rehearse and prepare for these murderous assaults.

Any particular game in mind, Jack?
Some of the Grand Theft Auto games, which are wildly popular among individuals such as Robert Hawkins,  feature what are known as “mall rampages” by which the player can rehearse, for hours on end, entering shopping malls and shooting at random individuals therein.

But, Jack, does this lawsuit mean that the Omaha police are not buying into your theory?
Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world...

[The] Police Chief of Omaha... refuses to provide to Thompson... the inventory list of items taken, by search warrant, from Robert Hawkins’ residence.

Thompson has served a written request, pursuant to Nebraska Statute 84-712, upon Police Chief Thomas Warren, and he refuses to comply with his legal duty, under Nebraska law, to provide the inventory.

Although it's not clear how, Thompson maintains that Chief Warren's refusal somehow puts others at risk:
In refusing to comply with the law, defendant Warren demonstrably puts at public safety risk residents of Nebraska and elsewhere... 

Thompson has also been interviewed concerning this suit by Omaha's KETV-7 for its 10PM news broadcast. GP has also heard from Ryan Miller, a vice-president with Gamers, a Midwest game retailer. Miller said that he, too, was interviewed by way of counterpoint.

Meanwhile, Thompson attempted to post a message regarding the lawsuit on the comments section of GamePolitics:
I am... well on my way to destroying [GTA publisher] Take-Two. Tonight’s broadcast is just part of the plan.

GP: We're a bit puzzled by Thompson's action since Nebraska's public records disclosure law appears to specifically exempt police investigation files. The following are not subject to public release according to the statute:
Records developed or received by law enforcement agencies and other public bodies with duties of investigation or examination when the records are part of the examination, investigation, intelligence information, citizen complaints, informant identification, or information used in law enforcement training. 

UPDATE: Thompson has advised GP that in place of the lawsuit he originally forwarded to us, he has filed a writ (MS Word format) with the Fourth District Court of Nebraska. His intent remains the same: to compel Chief Warren to reveal the results of the Hawkins search.

Comments

Wow, I think I have to lie down, as this is such a shocking turn of events.

No, really. I'm shocked it took 3 weeks for Thompson to get involved. I figured he would've snuck past security at Fox News and forced his way on the air within minutes of the first 911 call.
I guess one of Jack's New Year's resolutions was not to stop filing frivilous and pointless lawsuits.

Pathetic.
don't forget, Cattleprod, that JT was in the middle of his Florida Bar trial when the Omaha shooting took place.
Maybe it's just me, but is Jack getting loopier ? (not sure that "loopier" is actually a word though)

It sounds like Jack is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. He obviously believes there is a world wide consipiracy and he'll stop at nothing to uncover it. I really, really hope the person or persons involved in his Bar trial notices this. If not, then I fear we are only in for more trouble.
I have nothing new to say that I haven't said a hundred times before. His stupidity does speak for itself at this point.
(*face-in-hands*)

Why? Won't? Jack? Learn?

"Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction"

Okay, Jack, two things:

1) It is you who is incapable of understanding the "direct causal link". Specifically, you are unable to understand this about your cherished "direct causal link": THERE. AIN'T. NONE.
2) SOMEBODY is living in his own dream world, all right. And no, it's not the Omaha Police Chief; it's actually the person I'm directing this message to.

Please, Jack. Just quit on your "crusade" while you still can. There's no way you can win. We all know that. Well, except probably you.
....

This one barely diserves a comment.
@cattleprod:

Besides, he could say he trained on Metal Gear Solid/Splinter Cell. :P Also I guess he knows 'Failed Lawyer's career is about to die' so its a rush to do as much damage as possible, but.... 404 FUNNY METAPHOR NOT FOUND.
*sigh* Dementia, possibly the onset of Alzheimer's disease, since he can't remember his failures and keeps repeating them.

When will the men in the white suits bring him his complimentary straitjacket?

If, by some crazy twist of fate, he doesn't get disbarred, his actions against the Department of Defense and now the Omaha police chief are going to get him right back in front of the judge for another disbarment hearing.
i was wondering when this would finally happen
I’d say “this is just getting silly” but let’s face it, we passed the silly stage a dozen articles ago…

I’m guessing it’s just a matter of time now before he concocts some crazy scheme to blame the Crusades on video games.
"Some of the Grand Theft Auto games, which are wildly popular among individuals such as Robert Hawkins, feature what are known as 'mall rampages' by which the player can rehearse, for hours on end, entering shopping malls and shooting at random individuals therein."

So, not only is it "obvious" that GTA directly causes violent tendencies in adolescents, but now it would seem "obvious" that all teenagers are playing GTA 24/7. This is the same claim as that made of Cho Sueng Hui: mere hours after the Virginia Tech shooting, Jack was on Fox claiming that they would find that Cho was a Counter-Strike gamer.

What madness is this? First the fallacy that violent games make people homicidal, and now he's claiming that all homicidal people were at some time playing games? That because he killed people, he "obviously" played Grand Theft Auto?

Cmon, Jack. If the game is so "wildly popular" among teens and "obviously" causes teens to murder people, why hasn't the whole country been taken hostage by them yet? Furthermore, what evidence do you have that allows you to claim that "anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction"? Your arguments just do not add up.

I doubt Ted Kaczynski trained himself to make bombs on Operation. Seeing as there is no undeniable proof whatsoever of ANY past murders being directly caused by video games, I don't see where you come up with your bull.
Not to worry. Not much longer, and he'll be disbarred.

He's just taking a few last gasps to keep his name in the press until his disbarment disgraces him.
Here's another question to consider. Could the chief of police arrest Thompson on charges of harassment and obstruction of justice? It seems to me that by trying to involve himself on the prosecutorial and investigative level against people who don't desire his input, that he's directly trying to tie the hands of the police with a meaningless and, ulitmately, frivolous lawsuit.

What do the rest of you think?
Thompson you act like it's a well-known fact that video games have been proven to cause violence acts such as this when in fact it has not (see all those failed court cases).

Also grand theft auto simply gives you the OPTION of gonig on a rampage in a mall, true sometimes it's required to get 100% completion but they don't require hours of shooting unless the player fails constantly (which shouldn't happen if they are obsessed with the game as you say). The player has to CHOOSE to spend hours upon hours killing pedestrians in the mall, and there is very little incentive to do so (except petty cash that can be obtained through other legal means in the game). Next grand theft auto has never given you the option of shooting yourself for any reason whatsoever so there must have been some other influence.

But wait let's look at his suicide note, he wanted to stop being a burden and he wanted to take out "a few pieces of shit" with him. Now if you play the games you would know that at no time does grand theft auto even suggest that random pedestrians are evil and deserve to die. Some may argue that the game devalues the lives of random people, that it makes the lives of random passerbys (sp?) seem worthless. But he wasn't doing this for fun, he was doing this because he thought they deserved to go down with him, that they were despicable pests. There is nothing in the game though that could even remotely suggest this so there MUST have been some other much greater influence in his life.

In other words you are wrong Mr. Thompson, now please stop acting like the entire world is out to protect the evil game companies it just makes you seem paranoid (hence the mental health examination).
@GP
Thanks for the reminder. I can't believe I forgot about that.

A desperate human being is what Thompson is. A sad, desperate, tantrum-throwing person who does not care about the families of those who did not come home from the Omaha Mall massacre, the Virginia Tech massacre, or from other horrifying tragedies. He only cares about himself and his (worthless) cause. Registered Republicans, conservatives, Church goers, and lawyers should be embarrased by this imbicile.

I also don't think that Jack knows that the mall shooter's parents allegedly sheilded him from games, rock music, and TV.
So his entire lawsuit is pretty much just saying "I'm right and you just don't want to admit it! WAAA!" Geez, wish this guy would actually learn from past mistakes, but I guess that's too much to ask for.
I was glad that Jack was so busy with his Bar trial that he couldn't appear on television. I took that as a sign that the media had finally wised-up and no longer wanted to contact him as they were starting to look for a more serious answer.

However, apparently Jack is throwing a hissyfit and acting like a spoiled brat since he wasn't asked to be on TV for this. So now we know what happens: if he isn't asked to be involved in any way, shape or form with any kind of shooting rampage, he'll force the issue and deliberately try to insert himself into it. And when he doesn't get his way he lashes out; resorting to his preferred tactic of using the law like a blunt instrument.

Really, they should yank his license for this alone. It shows just how crazy and desperate he is. I hope Chief Warren does throw his ass in jail for this, if only to make a point.
I don't understand why you don't have your license suspended while its under review. That really makes no sense.

Although I guess it could be called cruel and unusual punishment.
My IQ has crashed into the negative digits after reading the latest actions of Jack Thompson. Maybe i should try to get me one of these fancy-schmancy law licenses. Apparently they'll give them to anybody these days....
@Buckeye531:

"I also don’t think that Jack knows that the mall shooter’s parents allegedly sheilded him from games, rock music, and TV."

Of course they didn't! It's all just a coverup by the videogame industry, Take 2, and the ECA!

@Austin Lewis:

I thought letting him keep it was punshiment enough. :P
Holy hell the cheese has finally and completely fallen off of Jack's cracker.

"These [rampages] have occurred, in part… because of the advent of extremely violent interactive media (video games) consumed by adolescents and teens who use these murder simulation devices to rehearse and prepare for these murderous assaults."

Proof please.


"Some of the Grand Theft Auto games, which are wildly popular among individuals such as Robert Hawkins, feature what are known as “mall rampages” by which the player can rehearse, for hours on end, entering shopping malls and shooting at random individuals therein."


I've never heard the term "mall rampage" used in any game. Now Jack is just making shit up. Well that is moreso than usual.

"Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction…"

A direct causal link has never been established. More lies.

"The defendant Police Chief of Omaha, apparently learning nothing from more than a decade of such incidents linked to violent video games, refuses to provide to Thompson, nor apparently to anyone else, the inventory list of items taken, by search warrant, from Robert Hawkins’ residence."

Thats because no incidents have been linked to violent video games outside of Jack's twisted noggin.

"Thompson has served a written request, pursuant to Nebraska Statute 84-712, upon Police Chief Thomas Warren, and he refuses to comply with his legal duty, under Nebraska law, to provide the inventory."

Prepare for more legal disappointment Jack.

"In refusing to comply with the law, defendant Warren demonstrably puts at public safety risk residents of Nebraska and elsewhere… "

Proof please.

"I am… well on my way to destroying [GTA publisher] Take-Two. Tonight’s broadcast is just part of the plan."

Has anyone been keeping track just how many times Jack has stated that X act would destroy Take-Two?
@buckeye

I think your thinking of the colorado church shooter. The omaha shooter was the one that was in/out of foster care for years, and was living with a friend.
The police chief of Omaha, Nebraska should file obstruction of justice charges against Jack Thompson, assuming the police investigation is still ongoing.

Jack Thompson is nothing more than a crybaby who should just shut up and practice what he preaches abut growing up and getting a life.
*Reads full article*

And that's why in 2015 the justice system works quickly now that they've abolished all lawyers!
I maintain that he must be sick and that laughing at him would be a sin.
IT'S TIME I SAY IT. YOU SIR, JACK THOMPSON, ARE A TRAITOR. YOU ARE TRYING TO ABOLISH THE VERY FREEDOMS THAT MY FELLOW SERVICE MEMBERS FIGHT AND DIE FOR. WHY? WHAT IS YOUR REAL MOTIVE? I GUESS SINCE YOU ARE NOW TRYING TO ATTACK MINE AND EVERYONE ELSE'S FREEDOM, WE CAN NOW CALL YOU THE "T" WORD. BUT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU SURE AS HELL DON'T HAVE TO POWER TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT PLAY. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE FREEDOM OF BEING ABLE TO PLAY VIOLENT GAMES WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT INTERFERING, YOU CAN LEAVE THIS COUNTRY. AS FOR ME, I WILL STAY AT MY HOUSE AND PLAY MY VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES, NOT ON THE STREETS, DOING DRUGS, RUNNING ILLEGAL DOG FIGHTS, PIMPING WOMEN, ETC...

IF YOU REALLY THINK VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES PRODUCE VIOLENT OFFENDERS, TAKE ARE HARD LOOK AT JAPAN. JAPAN BEING THE GAMING MECCA BUT ONLY REFLECTS AROUND 50 MURDERS A YEAR. WITH THAT MANY VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES OVER THERE, WHY DO THEY HAVE A LOWER CRIME RATE THEN AMERICA TEN FOLD? THERE ARE PLENTY OF MURDERS, RAPIST, AND DRUG DEALERS IN PRISON, HAS IT EVER ACCORD TO YOU TO ASK THEM WHY? PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE TO MUCH SENSE, PLUS THEY WILL NOT LABEL VIDEO GAMES AS AN ATTRIBUTING FACTOR.

YOU NEED TO QUIT LEAVING IN A DREAM WORLD, AND START CARING ABOUT MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE: THE KKK, ARIAN BROTHER HOOD, AND BLACK PANTHER PARTY. THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE COMMITTED MORE CRIMES (EVEN BEFORE VIDEO GAMES) THEN YOU OBJECTIONABLE HYPOTHESIS WILL EVER HAVE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A GAMING HATE CLAN, HAVE YOU (YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN PLAY GAMES, SO YOU WOULD NOT KNOW FIRST HAND)? EVERY GAMING CLAN I HAVE SEEN HAS RULES OF RESPECT NOT OF VIOLENCE.

IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH VIOLENCE IN GAMES, I AM PRETTY SURE GAMERS WOULD BE THE FIRST TO CLAM IT. WE COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

THIS IS AN ANALOGY THE WAY I SEE IT.

JT: THOSE SHOES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.
ME: EXCUSE ME!
JT: THOSE SHOES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.
ME: NO THEY'RE NOT.
JT: YES THEY ARE.
ME: HAVE YOU EVER WORN THE SHOES.
JT: NO.
ME: THEN WHO DO YOU KNOW.
JT: I'M AN EXPERT.
SORRY FOR THE GRAMMER.
...At the rate Jack's suing, I think Satan's gonna open his personal ice skating rink to the masses.
@ Judith Iscariot

And promote an ice hockey game between the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers and the 9/11 hijackers, with Thompson on the hijacker team.
I'm confused... this didn't make 150 comments.
@darkness

lol its early yet. It'll hit 150 by this time tommorow.
Um Jack,

Where is the FUCKING PROOF?!
"...is living in a dream world of his or her own construction…"

Don't take it too hard Thompson, but when I read your court fillings, that's what I think of you.

First the Bar, then the Defence Department and now the police. Makes me think he really wants to go out with a bang.

Sorry Jack, but you'll be known as the most unsuccessful lawyer of all time, and the greatest egomaniac windbag.
The article from KETV-7 is available to be read now:

http://www.ketv.com/news/14942590/detail.html
Now watch the Omaha police say there were no video games on Hawkins' computers.
You know something? I think I'm addicted to Jack Thompson's idiocy. I think that all the articles of JT have shown me that not only are people imperfect, but they have given me something to contrast myself to. I often find myself thinking, "Jack would have done this... so I'm gonna do that instead." I don't quite know if it's because I see him as evil, or just stupid, but... I'm gonna think about this for a bit.
Mr. Thompson... You....Are....OBSESSED! Seriously, you need to take a [long] vacation.
@BearDogg-X:

oh noes, they got to them too!
I may be mistaken but wasn't this the kid who DIDN'T play video games?
YES YOU ARE. THE 23 YEAR "KID" THAT WASN'T ALLOWED TO PLAY GAMES WAS IN COLORADO.
Good GOD!. I go offline for a few days, and I miss all the fun.

It would appear that jack has detoured farther from reality then even I anticipated. Eventually jack, when you get disbarred, I worry about which happens first. You have a mental breakdown and get committed, or you go on a rampage and prove the game industry right once and for all.

Either way, I'll be happy that your gone and won't be an insult to intelligence anymore.

As for everyone else here and GP, Hi all, happy holidays, nice to see you again. Take care and have a happy new year.
Judge overturns suit, in 3, 2, 1.

"Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction…"

No, it's just you Jack, who is living in a dream world of your own construction.
Well I can't help that there are so many shootings in the US that I can't keep track of them anymore.
I bet he trained on Dead Rising. (this is called sarcasm, jack)
Oh that wacky, wacky Jack Thompson! What will he do next?

Great. Now I can see a 30 minute sitcom about JT in a similiar style of Punky Bruster. I'm a horrible person.

But on a more serious note, expecting Jack to not beat his dead horse is like expecting... Jack to not beat his dead horse. Seriously. You got better odds that Miami will go 16-0 next year.
Jack's problem seems to be his inability to differentiate between a brilliant legal maneuver and a massive leap in logic. He seems to think that when he says the police chief not turning evidence over to him has put the people of Nebraska in danger, that he has cleverly put the police chief into a legally compromised position. But really all he has done is stated two things that are in no way connected to one another.
Let's remember that Thompson always claims he only wants to prevent children from playing these games... of course the guy in Omaha was 19 and so Thompson's desired laws wouldn't have had any effect in this situation but Jacko has never been one to let logic get in his way...
I think they should invite Jack Thompson on to The Colbert Report. I can see the hilarity ensuing in my imagination...
Why doesn't this guy go to work for Fox News, oy?
Thompson, being self important isn't the same as atcually being important.
There was never a video game that had school shootings before major school shootings happened and yet in Jack Thompsons mind a side mission by choice in GTA involving a mall caused this shooting.
@ MacBoy

It'd be even more funnier if Colbert put Thompson on the "Dead to Me" board.
Just when I was calming down after Mike *uckabee made a complete ass of himself by claiming that the number of illegal Pakistani immigrants to the US is second only to Mexican immigrants, when in fact they don't even rank in the top twenty, this crap comes along to damage my calm.

The stupidity points itself out here. The man is this much closer to getting disbarred. He's got nothing. Think about it, absolutely nothing. This may get to you, but in the end he won't succeed yet again. Take comfort in that.

Oh and a sidenote, I was upset by the Mike *uckabee thing because it was in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination. A politicizing statement such as his in the wake of such a tragic event further seals this in my mind: He is not fit to be a national leader.
Looks like the massacre chaser is up to his old tricks
Wonderful! Spectacular! Genius! 5 Stars!

While Jack never ceases to amaze me, he just shot himself in the foot. His disbarment is pretty much assured. He could have waited it out, and maybe, just maybe, had a chance at a suspension and nothing more. Bravo Jackie.

YOU FAIL.
@ BOBBY

As Maddox would tell you, 7/16 of an inch is " the distance you'd have to move your pinky in order to not sound like an idiot". I will just tell you that it is a good way to make your comments down right unreadable.

@ Everyone

Sorry for trolling, but I like to read people's comment and caps lock is just downright unacceptable for that.
Um...hmm...er.....shit. I've got nothing. There simply isn't anything left to say about this fruitcake anymore.
Does he even have one iota of a case here?

The shooting took place in Omaha, Nebraska...

Thompson resides in Miami, Florida....

And unless I've mistaken something, he has no license (let alone right) to practice law in Nebraska.

That and the fact that he has no evidence to prove that the shooter played any video games and that he's blatantly ignoring the fact that the said shooter had a big record of mental illness.

But I guess at this point it can go without any saying... :/


No-no Jack... at the very least, fight smarter, not harder. It's like you're a school bully who punches the first person he sees every day.

But really, I don't know what I hope to achieve by saying that; Jack doesn't care and there is a 99.9% chance that he is doomed anyway. Not to bring up the belief stuff again, but trust me when I say he doesn't even have God's support in all this, despite whatever religious claims he may make. (As if it wasn't obvious given his consistent failure.) Really, as Penny Arcade has said, God is metal and brings those blue sparks in Mario Kart: Double Dash; he doesn't hate everyone on the planet like Jack seems to.

I should also say something more original while I'm here... hm...

How about this: If Jack was a Jedi, Darth Vader would be proud of his turn to The Dark Side.
@Waffles: You don't need to be a licensed lawyer to file a civil suit on your own behalf, and it seems like he's basically suing to make the PD comply with an information request. But, like GP said, it's an ongoing criminal investigation and police records are not public records in all instances.
@Jack, wherever you are: Determining what motivated the killings and how they were allowed to happen is police work. You're not a policeman. So stop telling the policemen how to do their job.
Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction...


Anyone who believes in a direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction...
@playitbogort

These things are rare, it's just that the media just loves to leech off of them for weeks on end.

@Bobby
First off use caps locks

Secondly as much as I would hate to derail this topic into the race issue when did the arian brotherhood kkk or black panthers become a problem again? As far as I know most of them have disbanded or at the very least are so small they are no longer a threat.
@Immortal1982
I sincerely apologize for the error. Thanks for the clarification.
I'm taking 50:1 odds that Jack's lawsuit ends in success for him, and thats being generous.

Seriously, I'm taking those bets right now, and I will in fact pay those who take the bet. Anyone feeling brave?
if everyone will please excuse me its time to let the men in white coats know about their next "pick-up"
@gp

umm i wouldnt talk to jt anymore who know what kind of brain damage you might suffer if you listen long enough
@Tye (sorry for the double-post; I just couldn't resist)
Fox News (or Noise) might as well hire Thompson. One of their legal analysts, Mark Fhurman, dropped the N-bomb repeatedly during O.J. Simpson's 1995 trial, which I think led to his acquittal.
@ Bobby

Stop screaming.
@rukon

50:1 odds? Are you kidding I'd give it at least 100:1 odds unless he gives in out of fear and nothing more.
I think that the Omaha Police Department basically laughed at Jack Thompson when he brought up this GTA issue so now he wants to get revenge by trying to make the police chief look bad just like how he tries to get revenge on Take-Two because he did not get his way.
of course he waited this long, now the Omaha police can't file a bar complaint against him to be used as evidence in his current case.

@GP,
so when, exactly, does Thompson's continued attempts to bypass your bans become cyberstalking?
The omaha police chief is a tough cookie, I don't think he'll be easily bullied by the likes of JT.
I think we need to have a pole. How many people/companies will JBT attempt to sue in 2008 or before he gets disbarred. Enter your numbers please for 100 internets.

Note that Infinite is not acceptable
I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but we need to get someone on the air about this. We need to be able to show the public that Jack Thompson is a decitful, offensive person. We should really call him out on this stuff.
Clearly, the things that we know about Thompson is far different than what the mainstream public sees. We need to be able to show that the gaming culture can be positive towards american society and can be beneficial. It's how deaf people and Deaf culture got the mainstream eye when they marched at Galladuet university for the "Deaf President Now" movement.

Although it's not ALL about Thompson, we need to approach the public about him. It can't be done in a libel and slanderous way, but we can be the other perspective, the other part of that argument. I don't want to hear from a professor, I'd rather hear from a credible gamer on telivison who can provide a great arguement and point out things.

Our gamer initiative goes beyond Jack Thompson. We need to be able to show the public that we are credible and respectible people, restore our image that he has broken down and move beyond Jack Thompson and inform our public correctly. We should hold debates, speakings (people from the industry, credible psychologists, credible lawyers) that should focus on the legality, morality and design of videogames.

I have always had three questions about videogames and politics. I have no true answers to any of them. I think the answers, at least in part lie with the public opinion.

Within what boundaries are videogames legal? (This has been a nagging question of mine since discovering gamepolitics and reading about videogames bannings in the U.S., UK Austrailia, etc.)

Are videogames moral?

Is videogame design considered art?

I know a friend that I am going to talk to make videogames a central subject on a radio station in a small town. I want to see our rights supported much more strongly.
This is really getting fun, he just won't stop. I can't wait for the next installment!

The next time on Jack Thompson's legalass theatre...
I'll say that JBT will sue around 20 people/companies before he Gets disbarred. 100 internets please.

In all seriousness, the guy is loosing it, too many "assassination" attempts from gamers I guess...
I am looking forward to seeing what new situations Jack Thompson would come up with in 2008.

I hope that he has his own website where people could challenge him. THAT WOULD BE FUN.
I think Cidas has a good idea in getting someone out there on the air. I'm thinking the best way is to have the ECA groom and prepare someone specifically for tv appearances. I know they are located here in Connecticut, as are several readers here (I met one of our other readers in person yesterday actually). Maybe we could arrange tryouts or a contest to become an ECA spokesperson on tv, radio, etc?
is it libel to say someone is a liar if they are a liar? i mean, isn't that called the truth?
Oh wow. DoD and the police in a week. Who's next? The White House?
When there is no ambulance to chase, sue the ambulance company?
We at Gamers knew it would just be a matter of time before Jack Thompson would wail like a banshee and point an icy cold finger towards the video game industry over this tragic incident. I has not at all surprised when I received the call for the interview today from the local news to comment on Jack’s latest, frivolous escapade.
Gamers, Inc has been selling value video games in Omaha and across the Midwest for over 14 years. People here look to us as THE place to purchase new and used video games. Never has a local incident shocked the hearts, minds, and souls of so many Nebraskans as this recent shooting at the Von Maur store in the Westroads Mall. It is very disheartening that Jack Thompson would use this horrific, heartbreaking event to further his agenda.
Jack Thompson is trying to make the facts conform to his mission or “crusade” instead of having his mission conform to the facts of the matter.
-There is no causal link between video games and participating in real-world violent acts. For example ANY one who consumes alcohol heavily will experience an impairment regarding operating a motor vehicle. There is a causal link here. However not everyone who plays video games acts out violently. There is no causal link here.
-People do not train on video games anymore than I could train to be an attorney by playing the video game, Phoenix Wright, or could train to be a mob boss by watching the Sopranos.
-Video games are INTERACTIVE media. I am playing a GAME. Since I am interacting, I know it is not real.
-Since the advent of video games into mainstream, violent crimes have gone down. We believe this is due to people being able to act out their aggressions in the virtual world as opposed to the real world. If I ever have a rough day, I pop in Call of Duty 4 (game of choice at the moment) and finish my day refreshed.
- This killer had several issues with theft, drugs, isolation, and parental abandonment. With this large stack of issues, it seems futile to look at the shooter’s video game habits. What is next, finding out what this shooter ate? I see a much greater correlation between shootings and lack of parental restraints and supervision than with shootings and video games.

I wish that Jack would see this issue for what it really is and seek to find/ fix the true causes of these tragic events instead of trying to distort the facts to blame video games. If Jack wishes, he can contact me as I would love to explain to him how he is helping to create more incidents by allowing sub par parents to focus on a scapegoat in video games instead of examining their own parental shortcomings. Dennis has all my contact information.
I'm betting there was milk in the kids fridge. Why won't anyone believe me that there is a direct causal link between violence and milk? I bet if you could interview every sadistic murder ever recorded in history, milk figured into their lives at some point.

We've got to stop MILK!
Venzent you crazy fool, it's not the milk, its the TOILETS! Every single person in the industrialized world who has killed someone has used a toilet at some point in their lives! Further, ever person who has ever had CANCER in an industrialized world has used a toilet! We must stop praying to these porcelain gods and DESTROY them, for the good of us all!
Uh, I'm not a huge GTA player but I don't remember them having any shopping mall killing spree missions in the games. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds to me to be nothing more than his usual lies pulled out of his ass. I guess it's just like Counter-Strike supposedly trained that person to chain the doors shut in his school despite there not being any option to do so in the game.
And with each story about him he gets more annoying.
Does anyone else find it odd that Jack Thompson intends on exposing the truth by impeding an official police investigation?!?

Another note I forgot to add. A large portion of our proceeds of all Wii Bundles sold this holiday season in Omaha are being donated by us (Gamers, Inc.) to the Von Maur Victim's Fund.

Yet another way that video games are helping others!
@Ryan "Ryno" Miller aka GamersRyno

All good points mate. Except.... well we ARE dealing with JBT here. N Ot exacly Man of the Year materal. All the other issues relating are not of interest to him after he heard (or even not heard but imagined) games. He is sueing for money and possibly for fame. He is trying to do to games what other lawyers did to big tobacco.

His normal rant includes his line about how "M" rated games are being sold to minors. ie Have to save the kiddies. Except he has shown that he does not much care for or about children. Only the games and the money they can bring him.

While I admire your desire to speak with consider his statement when attempting to sue for the records.

"Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world of his or her own construction…"

Megalomania at its finest. He is right the rest of the world (those that do not agree with him or admit he is right) is wrong. Besides you are a gamer and according to JBT sub-human at best and not worthy of his time.
@ Rukon Zappa

I would love to be the first to volunteer for the position of ECA spokesperson! In fact, I was talking with Hal about it at the VGXpo last October as I have a degree in Mass Communication, I'm articulate and have an excellent speaking voice. Personally I was thinking more in the direction of voiceovers for any commercials or PSA's they might want to do, but a spokesperson position sounds great too. And even though CT is a few states away from me, it would be worth the trip to audition.
@ Black Manta

I would vote for/support you as spokesman. Hell you have been in the same room and within striking distance of JBT and he can still walk (and sue) Only I wonder, JBT has proven not to hear anything he does not .want to so would it be worth the effort?
In Vice City there was a Mall mission. So Jack is tecnicaly right that you get to shoot up a mall. As I recall though, the Mall was stock full of Cops and it was a side mission so you had to choose to do it.

@Cheese

I am betting 16 on that one. He can do just that much damage before he has to convince someone else to do it for him.
people die of natural causes and accidents everyday. where is Jack's accident?
Vice City had a shopping mall in it.
Yes, Vice City had a mall in it. But 1) I don't think you are compelled to shoot everyone in the mall, and 2) the argument would have a lot more weight if JT didn't say that EVERY high-profile crime can be rehearsed in GTA.
@ neoSpider

Sorry if it seems like I am yelling. All caps is a military format in which I am use to. If you read maddox's book, he goes on to say that even though all caps seems like yelling, it is a lot easier to read.

@ Father Time
Are you from Mississippi? I would think not. Also ask the people in illinous and california. I am sure they would tell you other wise. Just because they don't show it on tv, doesn't mean it's not arround.

@ MacBoy
Please don't use mac in your name. Apple is well known for not supporting third party aps and video games. A lot of these guys are pc gamers, and hate the very thought of owning a mac because of that.


This is an analogy the way I see it.

JT: Those shoes are uncomfortable.
Me: Excuse me!
JT: Those shoes are uncomfortable.
Me: No they're not.
JT: Yes they are.
Me: Have you ever worn these shoes.
JT: No.
Me: Then how do you know.
JT: I’m an EXPERT.

Is that better.
If I had to guess, Jack Thompson is referring to Rockstar Games', the publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., video game State of Emergency. The first level of this game contains chaotic scenes in a mall setting. This game came out in 2002, though.
I have played this game myself. I have not since been inclined to engage in a mall shooting whatsoever nor do I feel better trained to conduct a mass shooting in a mall. I am sure the vast majority of those who purchased this title are the same.
This Christmas I played Guitar Hero 3 on the Xbox 360. I then attempted to play a real guitar immediately after (no joke). Let's just say I will be sticking to Guitar Hero. My real guitar playing skills are no better than Yoko Ono's singing skills (sorry to offend anyone). I suppose Guitar Hero failed to train me.
Well I am off to play Sim City in the hopes that it will train me to be mayor of Candyland (come on, who wouldn't like that job)!
Hey, jacko, three words for you:

JUST

F***

OFF!

Hey, wanna lump Call of Duty 4 into this "conspiracy"!? If thats the case, i am very well fucking trained, so just send me off to Iraq and i will have Osamas head on a spit by morning! Im saying this also in response to his attacks on "modern themed" fps's.

In case you didnt get the message before, let me say it again:

JUST

F***

OFF!
Now that i have come back to my senses, people, its high time we fight back against this dipshit and others like him! Hees wasting our time, his own time (like he cares), and ultimately THE COURTS TIME! Every time he brings this bullshit up, its another murderer on the loose, another woman raped, and another child sodomized! In the time he wastes, he keeps another criminal out of jail, or another pedophile on the streets! This has gotten to the point where he is grasping at straws! Hees finding every excuse to stir up the hive, so i will address my fellow gamers! People, THE TIME TO FIGHT BACK IS NOW!
(dont take what i said at face value, but realise the main point, please. i dont mean to stir up trouble)
Now Thompson messing with things in the state I live in... good friggin lord...
As much as I agree JT is just a plan moron, he does have a definate plan, and its not half bad. He knows he can never get anywhere in his crusade against video games, but the publisity he gets from filling lawsuits such as this makes up for whatever discredit it may bring him. He's basicaly making a living off this.
Anyone see the broadcast on KETV-7? I'm curious as to how it went.
I live 60 miles away from miami, so quit stealing my oxygen you worthless piece of frivilous shit Jack Thompson. you should be sued for being the ultimate dumbass
Take-Two will never need to hire a publicist as long as John Bruce is around.
@ Jack Thompson (since you have always found your way on here)

Even if they find out that he played some violent games SO WHAT.

Evidently he did not play them that much since no one that knew Hawkins came forward about him constantly playing violent games after these few weeks. So far it seems like millions of people have spent alot more time playing violent video games than Hawkins and has not gone on a rampage and yet you would use this as an excuse to get your way.

Even if he had any of the Grand Theft Auto games it would be pointless for an attack on video games because you do not need to be the smartest person to know that a mall would be a big target for a rampage.

You have nothing to go by on this situation so you would just make more lies and talk about the 2005 study by which there is alot of studies that prove that violent video games do not cause people to be more violent.
@ Altaïr

I agree, lets sue Jack Tompson. I am pretty sure there is something we can sue him about, he does it all the time with out any proof. We can too.
Ever since this has happened I have been waiting for JT. I'm suprised that it took this long. But considering his other problems I shouldn't be. As a Nebraskan I'm sad that a TV station from Nebraska would air his dribble let alone listen to it. Given how widelly the local newspapers and stories focused on the shooters mental health right after this happened I don't think JT will have a too big of an audience that will take him seriouslly
Dennis is absolutely correct: He\'s \"confused.\" There is no criminal investigation. The perpetrator is dead. Can\'t prosecute a dead man.

Oh, and I was the one on the news last night about this in Omaha, not any of you. Is this a great country, or what?

http://www.ketv.com/news/14942590/detail.html

As to the retailer\'s expertise, not so much:

http://www.apa.org/releases/videoviolence05.html

Hooah!

GP: I'm allowing this post to escape the spam filter...  However, his general posting priveleges have not been restored.
Geee, what a surprise. JT attempting to profit off the deaths of others.

You know I hope the word gets out in Omaha on this and folks stand up for the police chief (which I am sure they will). Folks there need to know what kind of "man" JT really is. Open his history of frivoulous lawsuits and his current disbarrment hearing to the public in Omaha and let them see that this kind of massacre chasing is what JT is known for. I feel very sorry that the victims families are going to have to put up with his crazy antics in their times of sorrow.

My question is what does the AG of Nebraska think of this? Has GP or any others called him to get his statement?

The poilce chief will win in the end (of course) and we all just have to hope tha this little stunt of JT's doesn't waste valuable time/resources fromt eh police department that could be spent in fighting ACTUAL crime....not imaginary ones.
apologies for the lack of hypertext, but I found this little article that...well, you can read it, and just use it as ammunition against Mr. Thompson...
lowest homicide rate in 40 years in two of the biggest cities in the United States.
Yup, video games are destroying america...one non-existent crime at a time.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318866,00.html
oh, apparently it does it for me....learn something new every day
@GamersRyno

"Does anyone else find it odd that Jack Thompson intends on exposing the truth by impeding an official police investigation?!?

Another note I forgot to add. A large portion of our proceeds of all Wii Bundles sold this holiday season in Omaha are being donated by us (Gamers, Inc.) to the Von Maur Victim’s Fund.

Yet another way that video games are helping others! "


Surprising that JT tries to impede an ongoing investigation? Nope, not in the least surprising, take a look at his past antics. This is basically Step #1 in his "To Do" book whenever a tragedy like this appears. he will make a few more outrageous claims/accusations/filings. When they are all summarily dismissed he will sit back and wait for the next high profile tragedy to occur. Its like clockwork for him.

I'm glad to see gamers stepping in to help the family recover from their loss. Stike another victory for the gaming community!!!
Apologies for not reading the entire thread. These days I just go searching for 'comma attorney' comments...

You couldn't make this stuff up.

You know, you would reckon that this mall had what two, three game stores? Following JTs logic to its un-natural conclusion, you would expect at least one of them to start shooting back.

Honestly, The Industry should give him a job just for the comedic value of his rants. You know you'd take it Jack;.
Looks like the new term of the week someone pulled out of their butt to sound smart when in reality it is something he made off the top of his head would be "mall rampages."
oh man. there are some real crazy people living in this world but goddamn this guy is totally insane.
So... Simply put: "Blame games or I'll SUE YOU!"

In refusing to comply with the law, defendant Warren demonstrably puts at public safety risk residents of Nebraska and elsewhere


He makes it sound as if some game console is going to jump off the shelf and go on a serial-murder spree if he doesn't get what he wants... LOL!

I'm sorry, Jack, but even if he did have a video game console, at this point that's like saying he had a pillow, or a kitchen, or a toothbrush. Games are everywhere - on the PC, on consoles, cellphones, hand-helds... if he had games, or played them, would prove nothing.
Here we go again, when actual studies find a true direct link between causation and not correlation then lets consider it. First the Department of Defense noww the Omaha Police Chief. Mr. Thompson is sticking his proverbial nose into business that is ongoing and possibly could land him in jail for obstruction of justice. To harass the chief of police and threaten him with a frivalous lawsuit is not going to go well with the judges at the Florida Bar.

If Mr. Thompson really wants to keep his license to practice law, he should lie low and do actual homework. He's worse than an ambulance chaser when it comes to things like this. Not only that, lets add in the fact that in direct opposition of thousands of gamers, he could not produce one true iota of evidence. Give the VT shootings, Cho did not play violent video games. Using counter strike to train your heart rate to go down? Has there actually been any study done to see if that actually is real? Lets see what else, the quaint litttle fiasco with Take Two where he tried to sue them left and right. Last time I heard, he was on the ropes with them and they settled and Mr. Thompson if I remember correctly was to not directly come into contact lawsuit wise with Take Two, that he could only advise on lawsuits.

Next step on the amazing crusade of Mr. Thompson, saying that the game industry made of many honest hard working artists, programmers, designers, developers, retailers and whatnot are working together to try and bring down Mr. Thompson by paying off key judges and people in power? If that's real then why the heck did he try to order that the Florida Bar remove themselves from possbily disbarring Mr Thompson. Oh, wait now I remember. It's because they hold the keys to whether he can "legally" practice law. From what I heard, the gaming industry is not corrupt and that we have some controversial, renegade companies that create some very violent video games, but paying off judges to try and get it to pass snuff and otherwise strike down the lawsuits of Mr. Thompson? I think not.

All in all, this man is grasping at straws and to say that he is on a moral crusade is ill gotten at best. Rather than opt for more educational means and let the parents, I mean truly let the parents decide, he wants to opt for eduation. Everyone is out to get this man and I am amazingly surprised he would even try to sue an officer of the law. Let alone the Chief of Police of Omaha. Who boy, after all this red tape, this is going to be an ulcer waiting to happen.

Like I said before in my previous posts, Bring it on Thompson, we have the ECA, the VGVN, and the ESRB backing us gamers up. We are ready to fight and step up and defend our rights.
Jack is just pissed off he's not making any money off this massacre.
Please tell me that's not really Jack worming his way back onto here. Of course, since when did he put backslashes right before single and double quotes?

Of course, some other guy did that on another thread...

Anyway, in all fairness, there was a mall shooting mission where you were to kill 100 Scientists. Who would ultimately shoot back at you.

In GTA2.

That game was *before* GTA got its sheer popularity, I believe. And that was a top-down game too.
jack you are the worst conspiracy theorist i have ever seen. david icke and his reptillian humanoid conspiracy theory makes more sense than yours do.
Gabriel Celesta
lets not forget zombies ate my neighbors there was a lot of mall shooting in that.....and 30 foot tall babies....and zombies..... and things......
dont mean to double post, but jack, have you ever stopped for a moment or two and thought over the who the people you claim to be so paranoid about really are? generalizing is bad, but seriously, to make a point in this case, the sterotypical gamer/game developer looks something like this:

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/2503/geek792748ra8.jpg

now are you sure you dont want to preserve your ego and be paranoid about something a little more threatning? do you really think people like john carmack who helped develop the most popular "murder simulator" in history are trying to corrupt your children? its one thing to be afraid of something you dont have any clue about but come on man, gamers? you fear for your life because of GAMERS? grow a pair.
it's official.
I pray to god that my mind never degrades to the point it's like jack thompsons.

I never want to think in that level of logic. ever.
[...] Jack Thompson Sues Omaha Police Chief over Mall Rampage Records [GamePolitics] [...]
"Anyone in law enforcement who does not understand or care to understand the direct causal link between violent video game play and these types of random killing events is living in a dream world…"

So basically you're stating that if they don't believe you then they are wrong. Am I reading this correctly?

He was mentally unstable, not because of video games, you waste of carbon material.

You have yet to link anything to video games in any case, but continue to waste the time of our legal system with your nonsense claims of video games being the prime evil of today's society. Seriously just stop, you're going into the realm of being pathetic in your attempts to prove this stupid point of yours. YOU are wrong, Jack.