NRA releases free video game, rated ages 4 and up

A screenshot from the game "NRA: Practice Range" / MEDL MOBILE via the iTunes store

In a highly anticipated news conference after the Newtown tragedy, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre said the best way to stop similar events was to put armed guards in very schools, and to take a closer look at the influence of violent entertainment -- of which video games play a major role.

LaPierre specifically singled out "vicious, violent video games, with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat and Splatterhouse."

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Now, however, the NRA is offering its own self-branded video game for free to the public: "NRA: Practice Range," which is available for free on the iPhone and iPad. The game is rated for ages four and up.

In response to a suggestion that it was wrong to develop a game for those aged "4 and up," developer Medl Mobile said "the NRA app is to promote gun safety, not "for kids aged 4+," according to Kotaku, a web site that focuses on the video game industry.

According to the game description, the app "puts the NRA's broad scope of resources in the palm of your hand - with 2nd Amendment newsfeeds, gun law information centers and educational materials that you can access anywhere, anytime."

In addition to news, the app also has "a 3D shooting game that instills safe and responsible ownership through fun challenges and realistic simulations. It strikes the right balance of gaming and safety education."

Based on that description, the game is not similar to the violent shooters LaPierre condemned post-Newtown. It does, however, make the simulation of shooting guns freely available to almost any person with access to an iPhone or iPad, "allowing you to enjoy the most authentic experience possible."

[AntonyGossettTS]

Anyone against guns:

A) Doesn't Own a Gun
B) Doesn't know how to operate a gun(safety, dismantling, reassembling, how they're made, how it works) You basically observe the gun like a caveman seeing the invention of fire. Pulling the trigger causes these metal things that come out of it, making loud noise when it happens, and fire appears and disappears then kills things. I bet you'd call it a boom-stick too.
C)Doesn't know a thing about the N.R.A
D)Doesn't know a thing about guns.
E)Encourages peace by making war.
That we know_____________________________________________
Continued but not 100% accurate
E)Encourages peace by making war.
F)The Kardashians (or similarly mindless sitcoms) are their most spiritual and intellectual experience of their day.
G)Great at mimicking gestures and memorizes certain key-words they heard an intelligent person say, scrambles the words in their empty-head, then spits out misinformation in the form of rumors, gossip, and preaches 100% factual when you in fact are less than 50% of the time correct other than what you can observe with your innate primitive senses and autonomous portion of your brain.
H)Best examples of Darwinism are your kind. The difference between you and other species of mammals: You'll finish yourselves off intentionally or unintentionally more likely than being a victim of prey. Luckily intelligent and wise choose intelligent and wise to mate with. :)

[Scimajor]

Proof positive that the NRA needs to go away forever. They don't care about ANYTHING except their toys (guns).

[Shawna593767]

It is the National Rifle Association, besides it more a insanity issue than gun issues. There just pointing the finger at guns.

[isanyonefair]

The NRA doesn't have the common sense to participate in discussions about public safety. Even their membership doesn't agree with their stand.

The REAL question is what is your State & Congressional representatives stand on this issue?

[handgunnar]

"The NRA doesn't have the common sense to participate in discussions about public safety. Even their membership doesn't agree with their stand."

Wrong on both counts. Range practice is the very definition of public safety. Public safety is NOT compulsory civilian disarmament, no matter how much repressive government shills believe it. And that worked so well for the Jews in Nazi Germany, didn't it?

NRA membership has skyrocketed during the last 3 months, so you need to get a better informed news source than Andrew Cuomo.

[lollyikens]

Very bad timing for this video to come out. What the heck is the NRA thinking? Right NRA teach the children to target practice, what is next?

My whole view of the NRA has changed. This is appaling and just a slam in the face of the Connecticut victims.

[lollyikens]

Very bad timing for this video to come out. What the heck is the NRA thinking? Right NRA teach the children to target practice, what is next?

My whole view of the NRA has changed. This is appaling and just a slam in the face of the Connecticut victims.

[KPeters_from_UK]

SAX1031 replies: here in America we like this thing called freedom
--------------------------



Freedom has limits even in the States.

Simple example: can't scream fire in a crowded place...WHY? ...because you might cause panic which in return may hurt someone.

[canabe100]

Nothing the NRA surprises me but they have just taxed the limit of surreal.

[TheDocD]

I'll try it out, right after you put Wayne LaPierres' and his entires families faces on the targets.

[handgunnar]

More sensitivity and respect for dissent that the American people have come to expect from the repressive Obama worshipers.

[AutumnFoghamar]

I'd say "You have GOT to be kidding me, but this is the sicko NRA - a far cry from what it was when I was a kid."

[RAS08]

No, your perspective has changed. Your forgetting about what they continue to do like when you were a kid.

[skeezix06]

So now we have a shooting game meant for children 2 years younger than the Connecticut victims?

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

The NRA president and chairman blamed video games for the Newtown carnage. Then the hypocrites release this. Hypocrites all.