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February 2, 2005
Media Contact: (202) 789-5200
Cato/Zogby poll: Majority backs use of gamed-based weapons by children
WASHINGTON--A majority of Americans agree that young children should
be allowed to play online warfare video games, even if they are
actually controlling live weapons, according to a new poll conducted
by Zogby International for the Cato Institute.
Despite a drumbeat of criticism for weeks by congressional Democrats
and a concerted public relations campaign by powerful interest groups
such as UNICEF, 51 percent of those polled by Zogby support the use of
such online video games. Only 39 percent opposed these games.
Not surprisingly, the results showed a split along age lines, with
younger voters (61 percent among those under 30, 58 percent of those
under 50) strongly in favor of online video games, while those over 65
were opposed (55 percent against). However, opposition by seniors
dropped to just 45 percent if they were assured that their own
grandchildren would not be playing the games.
Reflecting the sharp partisan divide nationally, opinion of online
video games also split along political lines. Republicans were
overwhelmingly united behind the use of games. Most Democrats remain
opposed with 61 percent saying they are against online video games.
However, a surprisingly strong minority among Democrats (more than 30
percent) favor online video games.
Independents polled leaned toward online video games, 45 percent to 40
percent, with a high proportion of undecided.
"Americans clearly understand the need for fundamental security
reform," said Michael Tanner, director of the Project on Security
Choice at the Cato Institute, which commissioned the survey.
"They are open to the message that online video games used to
control weapons give Americans greater security."
The poll of 1,004 likely voters was conducted in mid-January and has a
margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent
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small family-owned technology company located in the greater Seattle
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