Toy Safety Warning From the Grassy Knoll

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, in its 19th annual toy safety survey released Tuesday, again warned that the greatest danger to children still comes in the form of small balls, uninflated or pieces of balloons and toys with parts small enough to choke on.

No news on whether those balloons are more or less dangerous to society than the latest in a string of tasteless, bloody video "games" that cater to the worst in our children. Of course, games advocating simulation of gang activity, theft, and murder are one thing - this latest offering is another:



The company that makes this game (which we will not mention here, because they do not deserve the free advertising) is positioning it as an educational game that lets players fire the fatal shots from the Texas Book Depository over and over again (presumably one could learn marksmanship?). The company says the game would help disprove conspiracy theories about Kennedy's death and would "stimulate a younger generation of players to take an interest in this fascinating episode of American history."

Presidential historian G. Calvin MacKenzie of Colby College said, "Aside from being in incredibly bad taste, the idea of marketing it as an educational tool seems to stretch the notion of education beyond belief.'' For more on this, see the Boston Herald. We are intentionally not linking to the game manufacturer's site.