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Violent Game

Florida Lawmaker Proposes State Ban on Violent Game Sales to Minors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2005 - 3:55am.
Miami - A Florida lawmaker has introduced a bill in the state's senate that would ban the sale and rental of violent video games to minors. Reuters reported that the proposed legislation, from Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami), is a "near clone" of a video game ban recently signed into California state law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Entertainment Software Association, a video game industry trade group, recently filed suit in California to have that law tossed out; similar restrictions on video game sales have been struck down by courts on First Amendment free speech grounds in Washington state, St. Louis County and the city of Indianapolis. "The (Florida) Senator's proposal is clearly unconstitutional," Gail Markels, senior vice president and general counsel of the Entertainment Software Association, said in a statement.
tags: Minors | Sales | Florida | Violent Game | Lawmaker | State Ban |

Michigan Passes Violent Game Sales Ban; Game Industry to Sue Governor

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 14, 2005 - 3:53am.
Washington -- The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a video game industry trade group, announced on Wednesday that it will sue Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, asking a court to overturn a ban on the sale of violent video games to minors in the state she signed into law today. "Protecting our children must be everyone's top priority," Granholm said. "This is a common-sense law that provides parents with the tools they need to protect their children from the effects of violence and graphic adult content." Calling the language of the bill -- which will become Michigan state law on Dec. 1 -- "hopelessly vague," the ESA pointed out that similar bans have been struck down by the courts in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Washington State. "If this law is implemented, it will not only limit First Amendment rights for Michigan's residents, but, by virtue of its vagueness, it will also create a huge amount of confusion for Michigan's retailers, parents, and video game developers," said ESA president Douglas Lowenstein.
tags: Law | Michigan | Sue | Violent Game | Governor | Game Industry | Sales Ban |

Illinois State Senate Approves Ban on Violent Game Sales to Minors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 20, 2005 - 7:14am.
Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois state Senate this week approved a bill that would restrict the sale of violent video games in the state to minors. The Safe Games Illinois Act, proposed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, would put the onus on retailers to determine which games are too violent or sexually explicit for minors, and then fine them should they sell such titles to anyone under 18. As the Senate's version of the bill deleted a section in the Illinois state House's version that called for jail time for offenders, the bill must now return to the House for debate. "Video games are not art or media," Illinois state Sen. Deanna Demuzio told AP. "They are simulations, not all that different from the simulations used by the U.S. military in preparation for war." Similar laws banning the sale of violent games to minors have been consistently struck down by a number of courts as being unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds.
tags: Games | Minors | Senate | Ban | Violent Game | Illinois |

Christian Investors Compel Best Buy to Toughen Violent Game Sales Policy

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 19, 2005 - 7:39am.
New York -- A group of retailer Best Buy's shareholders said on Thursday that they are withdrawing a shareholder resolution against the company concerning the sale of violent video games to minors. Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) said it withdrew its complaint after Best Buy agreed to implement a tougher policy on M-rated game sales to minors. The retailer will institute a "mystery shopper program" -- basically an ongoing, in-house sting operation that will audit cashiers to make sure they are asking for ID from any customer who attempts to purchase an M-rated game that appears to be under 21. The policy will also require Best Buy employees to sign an agreement stating that they agree to ID customers, and will provide unspecified disciplinary actions against those found selling violent games to minors. "We are pleased with the progress to date at the company and commend Best Buy for improving its business practices in this area," said CBIS corporate advocacy director Julie Tanner. "We believe that Best Buy's work here will diminish reputation risk and protect shareholder value."
tags: Violent Game | Christian | Toughen | Compel Best |

California Ban on Violent Game Sales to Minors Advances

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2005 - 10:04am.
Sacramento -- Following a defeat in an earlier vote on Tuesday, the California State Assembly's arts committee on Thursday advanced a bill that would ban the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors. The bill, which passed by a 6-4 vote on reconsideration, will now come before the full Assembly, and if approved, will then move on to the state Senate. Sponsored by Assemblyman Leland Yee, the bill has garnered the support of the NAACP, the Girl Scouts and the PTA. "For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, cigarettes, or alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to go to stores and buy video games that teach them to do the very things we put people in jail for -- abusing women, joining street gangs, killing police officers, or even assassinating President Kennedy," said Yee. A similar bill also passed a committee within the Illinois state Senate this week. Courts have consistently struck down such laws banning game sales to minors as unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds.
tags: Games | California | Minors | Violent Game |

Calif. State Lawmaker to Reintroduce Ban on Violent Game Sales to Minors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 15, 2005 - 10:40am.
Los Angeles -- A California state lawmaker who saw a similar bill defeated last year plans to introduce legislation that would ban the sale of violent video games to minors in the state, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Assemblyman Leland Yee wants to empower district attorneys to shutter businesses that routinely sell minors games that "depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel." Yee spokesman Adam Keigwin told Reuters that the bill has the support of the Girl Scouts and the Parent-Teachers Association. A similar bill introduced last year by Yee did not reach the Assembly floor, while a separate bill authored by Yee that requires retailers to prominently display explanations of video game warning labels was signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Courts have consistently struck down proposed bans on the sales of video games on First Amendment grounds by the city of Indianapolis, St. Louis County, Missouri and the state of Washington, while efforts to legislate bans have been launched by the governor of Illinois and the city council of Washington, D.C.
tags: Minors | Violent Game | Lawmaker | Reintroduce |