---

Print

E-mail

del.icio.us

---

Indiana and Maryland are now considering legislation to restrict or ban violent video games to people under 17

Extreme violence and sexually explicit material in video games are currently hot topics among PC enthusiasts and politicians alike.  Although no one is entirely sure what has recently launched all of the attacks against "violent" video games, many speculate that it is because of the famous (or infamous) Grand Theft Auto video games.  Although violent games dates back a little bit further than games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the heinous Columbine school shooting shook up a wide community and many people initially blamed the popular video game Doom as the cause. From then on, violent video games became a hot topic.

Now, officials from Indiana and Maryland are now considering legislation that would restrict or ban the sale of violent video games to minors.  From Indiana, Senator Dennis Kruse proposed Senate Bill 0135, which would prohibit the sale or rental of any game with violent or sexually explicit material to people under 17.  In the state of Maryland, Delegate Wade Kach's proposal would block the sale of Adults Only-rated games to minors. Other states are bound to follow suite.

In California however, U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte recently issued a preliminary injunction preventing a ban on sale of violent video games from going into effect.  He questioned whether there is enough evidence that shows violent video games actually cause violent behavior in children.  The video game industry sued to get the law overturned because it showed enough evidence that the law violates the First Amendment rights of minors.

Regardless of whether or not there is a law restricting it, many minors will still find ways to get video games with violence.  It is currently unknown how many stores would actually enforce the ban, and there is always the matter of a gamer simply getting someone else to buy the game for them. A minor located in California recently said:

No law that Governor Schwarzenegger can put into power will stop be from playing the games I want to play. If I cannot purchase the game myself, I will just ask one of my friends to do it for me.

To date, it appears that California, Indiana, Maryland, Washington, Illinois, and Michigan have either tried to or are currently trying to place some sort of restriction or ban on games with violence or sexually explicit material.  Although the video game industry has had recent success, the states will most likely continue to keep trying to pass some form of legislation that will stop minors from getting certain video games. Whether you're for or against a bill that would block the sale or rental of violent video games to minors, this is something that will continue to be in the headlines.