Schwarzenegger Appeals Video Game Law to Supreme Court

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 20, 2009 - 12:24pm.

Sacramento, Calif. - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision that struck down the state's law restricting the sale of violent video games to minors. The law was passed in 2005, and tossed out as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech in 2007; that ruling was upheld by the Ninth Circuit in February.

"By prohibiting the sale of violent video games to children under the age of 18 and requiring these games to be clearly labeled, this law would allow parents to make better informed decisions for their kids," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

"I will continue to vigorously defend this law and protect the well-being of California's kids."

"California's citizens should see this for what it is -- a complete waste of the state's time and resources," said Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, a video game industry trade group.

"California is facing a $21 billion budget shortfall coupled with high unemployment and home foreclosure rates. Rather than focus on these very real problems, Governor Schwarzenegger has recklessly decided to pursue wasteful, misguided and pointless litigation."

To date, every law passed attempting to restrict violent video game sales to minors has been struck down by the courts.

Related Links:
http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/12345/

http://www.theesa.com