EDITORIAL BAD BEHAVIOR PARENTS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN KEEPING KIDS FROM OVEREXPOSURE TO VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES.

THE American Psychological Association declared this week that violence in video games negatively affects children by increasing their aggressiveness and angry feelings.

All we can say is, well, duh.

After all the attention paid to the violence on TV, in movies and music we don't need more research to tell us what seems inherently true: Youngsters might get ideas after watching graphic violence, particularly when it's glorified and the perpetrators aren't punished.

Why else would we limit entry to R-rated movies to people over 17 or put parental warnings on CDs and DVDs? Kids mimic what they see and hear. It's part of how they learn.

Parents must know that, yet many children still have access to games such as the violent ``Grand Theft Auto.''

As part of the statement, the APA also appealed to the video-game industry to cut back on the violence and offered recommendations to do that. However, the group is looking at the wrong culprit. For one thing, many of those who play violent video games are adults.

If children are being exposed to violent video games then it's up to the parents to stop it. Video companies are going to continue to produce bloody games as long as there is a market for them. Only a movement of parents to not allow their kids to play the games will have an effect.