CPTNET
Dec. 10, 1998
Chicago: CPT to Ring out Against Violent Toys
by Lisa Martens

On January 1, 1999, Christian Peacemaker Teams members, friends and
trainees will go to a Chicago "Toys R Us" and call the store to become a
violence-free zone by the year 2000.

Bearing Bells and singing adapted carols, CPT supporters will ring in the New
year and "Ring Out Rambo".

In preparation for the New Years Witness, three CPTers visited the store on
Dec. 3 and documented selected items within the large inventory of violent
toys. The personality profile of one of the "X-MEN" reads "Battle Blaster
Wolverine slashes his way into making the world a better place....His
transforming claw blaster and its secret weapons are more
than able to finish the job for him."

The package of a "Small Soldiers" item explains that "The Commando Elite do
not understand the meaning of the words quit - or mercy. Experts in combat
strategy and weaponry,
these guys will stop at nothing to rid the universe of their mortal enemy, the
Gorgonites."

A voluntary industry wide rating system for video games was established
several years ago, but the Dec. 3 delegation noted a young child playing
"Metal Gear Solid" on the stores's sampler screen. The game's rating reads,
"Mature [meaning inappropriate for minors]; Animated blood and gore;
Animated violence; Mature sexual themes."

"Eleven," answered the boy when asked his age. There are no control
mechanisms that sanction retail outlets and marketing systems when they allow
"Metal Gear" and similar materials to fall into the hands of children and
minors. Consumers can change this by challenging toy outlets in their
communities.

The delegation spoke to the store's Director Greg Orr about their
observations and concerns and the purpose for the witness on New Year's Day.
He agreed that games played on "Toys R Us" sampler screens should be
monitored, and claimed that the company has a history of taking items off of
its shelves due to violent content. A subsequent call to the district
office revealed that no list of rejected toys is available.

At a time when corporations are increasingly being held accountable for
marketing dangerous products to children (i.e. tobacco companies), "Toys R Us"
continues to market violence to society's most vulnerable members.