SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
Friday, bells across the state of Georgia will toll 26 times to honor the children and educators killed at Sandy Hook elementary.
One group of gamers will honor them in a different way with a virtual cease fire, meaning the group will not play violent video games. Antwand Pearman, chief editor of Gamerfitnation.com, is pleading with gamers to put down the controls and show the victims and this country's leaders that video games are not to blame for violence in Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut.
Antwand Pearman, "I'm asking for a day, just one day from 12 to 12, where you just don't play online shootings."
When WTOC told Kathy Kennedy of Metter about the online plea, she thought the gesture was very respectful.
She knows what it's like raising a son with video games in the home.
Kennedy says she's bought her son, Hunter, games since he was young.
Hunter, now 20, also owns several guns including a new semi-automatic AR15, however, she says she's not concerned.
"He collects guns just like my father did. He hunts," said Kennedy. "I don't believe for one minute that he would harm someone."
Kennedy also believes that whether it's games or guns, parental involvement is key.
"We've raised him with good core values and I don't believe a video game is going to change what his beliefs are."
Trey Young, of Springfield, agrees.
He said, "The time spent with the child is precious."
Young is new to the gaming world. He's shopping for a console for his two boys, ages nine and 15, for the first time. He may be new to buying but he's got some solid beliefs about what's motivating his choices in games.
Young said, "I'm looking for more active games like Kinect. I don't want them to zone out on the couch. I believe that a lot of the Halo and the zombie games are very desensitizing to children, probably desensitizing to adults."
Young also believes that putting down the controller is a good idea.
"Shutting it down for a day, I don't think will hurt anybody, and it might teach some self control."
Which is part of Pearman's point. One of his last pleas is to show we have a heart.
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