In the wake of the tragic shooting death of a conservative YouTuber in the US, which has left the nation reeling, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has pointed to gaming as a potential culprit behind gun violence.

The 'Make America Healthy Again' committee submitted a fresh report on the 9th (local US time). It outlines a proposal from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to President Trump, detailing ways to address what the Secretary identifies as the root causes behind the rise in chronic pediatric illnesses.

When asked by PBS News whether the report addresses mental health, firearms, and their impact on children's well-being, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remarked that "guns are a complicated issue." The Secretary pointed out that while some argue violent outbursts have been on the rise since the 1990s, such events were once unheard of. The Secretary further noted that countries like Switzerland, despite their high density of firearms, rarely see such incidents.

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went on to list psychiatric drug abuse, gaming, and social media as contributors to gun violence, stating that the National Institutes of Health is currently investigating these links. "We are launching studies to explore the correlation and potential connection between substance abuse in children and violence," the Secretary explained, though the Secretary offered no specific details regarding gaming.

Local public opinion remains sharply divided. Many are growing weary of politicians dusting off the 'games cause violence' narrative every time a tragedy occurs, especially given that countless studies and academic papers have failed to establish any meaningful link. President Trump made similar claims at least twice during the previous term, and the Obama administration echoed such sentiments following the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Notably, after a 2019 mass shooting, President Trump declared, "We must stop the glorification of violence in our society. This includes the gruesome and grisly video games that are now commonplace. It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence. We must stop or substantially reduce this, and it has to begin immediately."

The Mexican government is also pushing forward with tax policies aimed at curbing the consumption of products deemed detrimental to public health, including a proposal for an 8% special tax on violent video games. The government claims, "Recent studies indicate a correlation between the use of violent games and increased aggression in youth, as well as negative psychological impacts such as isolation or anxiety."

With Steam's recent censorship of mature titles—reportedly under pressure from credit card companies—and the persistent political rhetoric linking gaming to violence, the climate surrounding the industry feels increasingly suffocating. Meanwhile, back in Korea, a public-private consultative body remains locked in long-term deliberations over whether to officially classify gaming disorder as a mental illness.