Attorney General John Ashcroft Wednesday highlighted video games, television and even a game called "Dope Wars" that can be downloaded on the Internet as examples of the "the culture of violence" that may have contributed to a spate of recent deadly school shootings. [...] Ashcroft said a school shooter in Paducah, Kentucky, had never used a gun before, but played violent video games which simulated shootings.

The topic has been beaten to death really, but it's really strange to be getting such hugely differeing mixed signals from the government about their stance on computer games.