Congress Follows States' Lead In Trying To Ban Stores From Selling Violent Video Games To Kids
from the let's-see-how-far-this-one-gets dept
At least 10 states have tried to ban the sale of violent video games to kids, and in each and every case, the laws have been found to be unconstitutional. Yet that doesn't stop state governments from trying... and apparently the politicians at the federal level (election year!) want in on the action too. They're proposing a bill that doesn't exactly ban the sale (which is probably how they hope to get around the Constitution questions) but which requires stores to ask for an ID as well as to post details about the ESRB ratings. This seems like yet another "protect the children" political move by politicians up for re-election. But, it's becoming increasingly clear that these types of laws aren't necessary, no matter what constitutional questions they may raise. Beyond the absolute lack of evidence concerning problems from kids playing violent video games, it appears that the industry has taken care of the problem by itself. Self-regulation by stores has resulted in a significant decrease in underage kids being able to buy mature video games. But don't let facts get in the way of those pushing for these types of laws. They're applauding the new bill, just as they demonstrate that they don't even understand what they're campaigning against.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: age limits, congress, violent video games
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GP
http://gamepolitics.com/2008/05/09/exclusive-gp-interview-congressman-talks-ratings-rape-the-d aily-show/
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Parenting
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Re: Parenting
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Re: Parenting
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If Politicians really believed Violent Games
Politicians should pass laws mandating that all children are required to play a minimum amount of non-violent games...
oh wait that is called school recess, never mind.
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Re: If Politicians really believed Violent Games
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Here we go again...
Second, this will be just like kids buying cigarettes. There'll be a law saying check ID and it will make it illegal, but it will still happen. You're making that clerk that makes minimum wage do one more thing at the counter, that will probably be the least important to them, thus it doesn't get done.
Third, where are these kids parents? Seriously...
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Re: Here we go again...
They are obviously at hard at work, making lots of cash to foolishly give their kids. In turn, the kids will spend $59.99 of it on violent video games - which the parents will never see the kids playing.
Or the parents could just purchase their kids a MOD-CHIP or MODDED-CONSOLE for little johnny, so he can download his own games without having to bother with all these 'wonderful' new laws.
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Maybey wee need a law on this
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Re: Maybey wee need a law on this
I think you missed the point. RTFA - "They're proposing a bill that doesn't exactly ban the sale [...] but which requires stores to ask for an ID as well as to post details about the ESRB ratings." ... "Beyond the absolute lack of evidence concerning problems from kids playing violent video games, it appears that the industry has taken care of the problem by itself." http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080418/005355882.shtml
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Maybey wee need a law on this
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TOO MANY COOKS IN THE KITCHEN
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Good Idea
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Re: Good Idea
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Re:
We have porn that even adults cant buy or look at. We have guns that even adults cant use. We have movies that are illegal to watch. We have alcohol that is illegal to possess. We have an entire class of substances (recreational drugs) which are outright banned.
Whats to make you think they wont ban some kinds of video games too? Theres nothing to stop them.
So we fight them every step of the way.
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HAHAHA
"Why does anyone believe that if you can just keep writers from depicting acts of violence, acts of violence will disappear from our society? There were mass murders among the illiterate nobility of medieval Europe as rapacious knights pillaged their own people when they couldn't find any enemies to pillage. Ivan the Terrible needed no novelist to tell him how to be a butcher. Rape was not invented in the penny dreadful."
-- Orson Scott Card
http://www.nauvoo.com/library/card-talk.html
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Maybe we need laws dictating every action
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No Issue
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