‘GTA V’ To Be Pulled From Shelves Of Target Australia

Target Australia has removed Grand Theft Auto V from their shelves after reviewing customer concerns, according to Target Australia’s general manager of corporate affairs, Jim Cooper.

“We’ve been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significant level of concern about the game’s content.”

Cooper also went on to explain that while they have had feedback in support of selling the game, the decision to remove the game from their shelves was in line with the majority view of their customers. Copper said that while they are removing GTA V from Target shelves, the store would continue to sell other R-rated DVDs and video games.

“While these products often contain imagery that some customers find offensive, in the vast majority of cases, we believe they are appropriate products for us to sell to adult customers. However, in the case of GTA V, we have listened to the strong feedback from customers that this is not a product they want us to sell.”

Much of the customer concern stems from a recent petition started by female surviv0rs of domestic violence on change.org. The petition, authored by a female known only as Nicole, appeals directly to Target Australia. “Please Target — we appeal to you as women survivors of violence, including women who experienced violence in the sex industry, to immediately withdraw Grand Theft Auto V from sale.” The petition goes on to describe how the violence depicted in GTA V is not a game for many women and girls in Australia and globally. Nicole explains that she and other women have firsthand experience with sexual violence and it “haunts” them.

“Just knowing that women are being portrayed as deserving to be sexually used by men and potentially murdered for sport and pleasure — to see this violence that we lived through turned into a form of entertainments is sickening and causes us great pain and harm.”

According to CQNews, parents were among the thousands that have signed the petition directed at Target. Jonathan Sligh was one parent who added his name to the petition. He said his three sons bought the first version of the game over a decade ago. He noticed that the newest version of GTA, which was released back in November, had an ever increasing level of violence and it sickened him.

Nicole goes on to say in the petition that video games like GTA V promote the idea that it is acceptable for some women to be targets of sexual violence. The petition explains that hatred and contempt is being spread for women in the sex industry. Nicole says, “Women in the industry are 40 times more likely to be murdered by a man than any other group of women.” Games like GTA V “are grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women.” The petition concludes with another direct appeal to Target.

“Target, you pride yourself on being a family company, caring for local communities, and have a strong ethical sourcing policy. How can you do this while contributing to hostile and callous attitudes toward victims of violence and, more broadly, to all women?”

Do you think that Target Australia refusing to sell Grand Theft Auto V will be the catalyst for other retailers to do the same?

[image via Flickr]