NRA President Oliver North Promoted, Scripted and Starred in Violent Video Game ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II,’ but now Blames School Shootings on ‘Culture of Violence’

NEW YORK – In case you missed it, the NRA’s incoming President Oliver North appeared on Fox News Sunday yesterday. Instead of supporting any gun safety laws backed by the vast majority of Americans, North deflected and blamed a “culture of violence” and Ritalin for the horrific gun violence that kills more than 90 Americans a day and injures hundreds more.

What North did not mention: In 2012, he was a promoter, script consultant and voice actor for the violent video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II.” Yet for years, NRA officials have blamed video games for gun violence.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“The American people know who bears the most blame for gun violence: the NRA apologists who are always pointing their fingers at everyone else.”

Here’s North’s history with “Call of Duty: Black Ops II:”

• North was a script consultant for “Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” a 2012 video game, which made billions of dollars.
• North appeared in a series of promotional ads for the game, discussing the violent future of warfare and special operations.
• North even appeared in the game as himself, voicing his own character.
• North lauded “Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” calling his work on it “a great opportunity.”

At the same time, North and NRA leaders have blamed video games for gun violence for years.

• In January, the NRA’s chief lobbyist Chris Cox decried the “trash that’s being fed to our kids in video games.”
• Last year, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said, “the number one person teaching irresponsible use of firearms is all these elites’ employer, the Hollywood, television, gaming industry.”
• NRATV personality Dan Bongino has said, “when are we going to start talking about violent video games?”

North himself said this on Fox News Sunday:

“The disease is youngsters who are steeped in a culture of violence. They have been drugged in many cases. Nearly all of these perpetrators are male and they are young teenagers in most cases.

“And they have come through a culture where violence is commonplace. All you need to do is turn on the TV, go to a movie. If you look at what has happened to the young people, many of these young boys have been on Ritalin since they were in kindergarten.”