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25 to Life has received a lot of heat as it approaches its release date. Now, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has started a campaign to prevent the game from going on sale.
The organization raises support to make law enforcement officers’ jobs safer. A petition has begun on the group’s website to prevent the sale of the game. NLEOMF hopes to gain 17,500 signatures, one for each officer who’s name will appear on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
“It is absolutely unconscionable that game makers are enabling young people-or anyone-to dramatize shooting and killing as a form of entertainment, while officers and innocent people are dying in real life on our streets every day. We’re encouraging parents, caregivers, and everyone who is concerned about both law enforcement officers and children to ensure this game never makes it into the homes or hands of impressionable young people,” Craig W. Floyd, chairman of the organization, commented.
“While it’s true that players are given a choice between wearing a badge or the colors of a gang, the ultimate message carried by the game is that some players are justified in endangering the lives of police officers,” Floyd continued. “Regardless of your views on free speech or marketplace dynamics, there is really nothing good that can be said about this game. The images are wrong. The messages are wrong. And stocking it in US stores is wrong.”
Although the current focus is on 25 to Life, the organization recognizes that there is a bigger problem. This particular title is only a small part of a larger campaign.
“We’re focused on this game right now because children and communities are facing the greatest threat from it right now, but our broader goal is to encourage all parents and caregivers to be more aware of what their children are exposed to or encouraged to emulate,” Floyd stated. “Any type of media that glorifies violence against law enforcement or civilians should be scrutinized very carefully.”