'Sexually violent' GTA 5 banned from Australian stores

Two Australian retail chains have removed video game Grand Theft Auto V from sale in its stores, following complaints about the depiction of violence towards women. Target and Kmart stores pulled the game after a petition launched by three female survivors of violence gained more than 40,000 signatures.
Target said the decision "was in line with the majority view of customers". Some fans of the game accused the stores of censorship. The decision was made after three women set up a petition on change.org urging Target to withdraw the game. "It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points," the petition reads. "To see this violence that we lived through turned into a form of entertainment is sickening and causes us great pain and harm." It goes on to say that games like GTA 5 are "grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women". A rival petition was launched soon after, urging the stores to continue sales. "This game may allow you to kill, hurt, bash and shoot anyone not just females and this game should be on the shelves all over the country. It's made for adults not children, we have the right to buy games despite their content," said Brett Herbert, who launched the petition.

Source:http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30328080