CBN.com - It sounds farfetched,
like something out of a horror movie: a self-proclaimed vampire seducing
young girls into deviant sexual acts. But it's not a joke nor the product
of someone's runaway imagination. In fact, the recent arrest of just such
a vampire shocked his community.
John Christopher Bush was arrested in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for
sexually assaulting teen-age girls. Using a fantasy game as a lure,
the 26-year old Bush tells police that he's a vampire. Don Rimer is
the detective on the case.
Detective DON RIMER (Virginia Beach Police Department): Mr. Bush, without
hesitation, explained to us that he created a vampire family here. That
he was given permission to create his own family and that there was
nothing wrong with what he did. That he doesn't understand what our
concern is to begin with.
FREEMAN: One of the tools Bush used was fantasy game called Vampire:
The Eternal Struggle. While games like these may stress a hands-off
approach in the rules, many teenagers sadly found out too late Bush
didn't play by the rules. If teenagers wanted to be part of Bush's family,
they had to play by his rules. According to police, female members,
most between 13 and 16, had to submit to deviant sexual contact with
Bush, including breast biting, oral sex and intercourse. Members of
Bush's clan would cruise area malls looking for new recruits. Before
his arrest last month, Bush's vampire family had as many as 40 members.
Police say they were also recruited from area schools.
The link between role-playing and fantasy games, such as The Eternal
Struggle, with crime is well-established. In March, 1991, 17-year old
Shawn Novak murdered a nine- and seven-year-old in cold blood. Novak
was said to be fascinated with Dungeons and Dragons. And his attorneys
said their client was possessed when he slit the boys' throats. Detectives
say The Eternal Struggle has the potential of being even more dangerous
than Dungeons and Dragons.
Det. RIMER: I do think it is more dangerous because they talk constantly
about killing. Whereas in Dungeons and Dragons while there is the element
there, it's not always that. But here it seems to be constantly the
quest for power and position.
FREEMAN: Richard Marks is a counselor who studies the occult. He says
America's fascination with fangs is growing.
Mr. RICHARD MARKS (Counselor): They're not really the evil people that
we used to think of them as. Compassion comes out of the one who views
the movies. So we now see them as somehow erotic because of the strong
sexual connotation to vampires. We see them as lonely sometimes. So
we're now evoking human compassion out of humans towards someone who
is dead.
FREEMAN: Consider the last few years. Anne Rice's "Interview with the
Vampire" was a blockbuster, all the while embracing the erotic side
of vampires.
Bram Stoker's "Dracula" also immersed America in the gothic. And the
new film "From Dusk Till dawn," which was number one at the box office
during its opening week, two gun-crazed criminals stumble unknowingly
into a vampire bar where they end up spending a bloody night blasting,
bludgeoning and stabbing their way through dozens of the undead.
In bookstores, Anne Rice's best-selling vampire novels have captivated
millions of readers. Vampires have even made it into the Internet. Everything
from Vampire Chat Rooms to frequently asked questions can be just a
few mouse clicks away. Manufacturers of many of these games stress clearly
that players take a hands-off approach to game playing. In this vampire
game, The Masquerade, the instructions warn clearly that, 'You must
not use anything that can harm you or another cast member.' At the same
time the instructions go on to say, 'Make-up and fangs are strongly
encouraged and other players appreciate the effort involved in creating
a very vampiric appearance.'
Rob Anderson is one gamemaker that knows the power of fantasy in role-playing
games. He created the Christian card game Redemption to have a positive
influence on players.
Mr. ROB ANDERSON (Creator, Redemption): If someone wants to become
a Christian or dedicate their life to Jesus Christ, as partially in
part to playing my game, I think that's a wonderful event. If people
are doing that for a Christian game, I wonder if they're doing it the
other way for darker games.
FREEMAN: What is the common thread, if any, that tie all of the teenagers
together who played Bush's game? Detective Rimer thinks he knows.
Det. RIMER: One of the common things we did see, however, is that there
was a high percentage of children from fragmented homes, single-parent
homes and there was also a high percentage of the children who did not
truly belong to anything or any other what we call positive influence
in their life.
FREEMAN: For many of the players of fantasy games, like The Eternal
Struggle, the adventure ends when the game is over. But as Detective
Rimer knows, that's not always the case.
Det. RIMER: We have to look at the fact that we've identified somewhere
in the neighborhood of 40 children just in this one incident and that
causes us to take a real strong look at this kind of activity all across
the nation. What we constantly caution the children about is, you're
getting into a game here that you may not safely get out of.
Would you like to experience freedom from oppression? Jesus Christ
can set you free! We invite you to ask Him to be your Lord and Savior?
What to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness.
I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave
to give me life. I know You are the only way to God so now I want to
quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change
my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, please
send us an e-mail to let us know. Or you can call The
700 Club Prayer Counseling Center at (800) 759-0700.
We would love to talk with you and send you some literature
to help you begin your walk with the Lord.
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