Violent game ban upset
p2pnet.net News:- Because a Louisiana law aimed at banning sales of violent video games to minors violates free speech rights, it can’t be enforced,” says a judge.
“U.S. District Judge James Brady said the state had no right to bar distribution of materials simply because they show violent behavior,” says the Associated Press. Brady issued an injunction saying the law is an ‘invasion of First Amendment rights of both video game producers/retailers’ and the minors who play the games.”
States with similar blocks on blocks include Minnesota, Illinois, California and Michigan, says AP, adding:
“The Louisiana law was challenged by the Entertainment Software Association, a trade group whose president issued a statement criticizing Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the state’s lawmakers for approving the law,” says AP, quoting Blanco as saying, “In spite of the judicial ruling, I firmly believe that violent video games do little but harm our children. I’m calling on all parents to diligently monitor the video games that their children are allowed to play.
“If the courts cannot protect our children, then we need to do it by rejecting the merchant of violence.”
In associated news, Take2 Interactive will release two videos this year, GTA Vice City, a follow-up to its GTA San Andreas, and the ‘brutally funny’ Bully, set in a school.
Also See:
Associated Press – Judge blocks ban on violent video games, August 26, 2006
two videos – Rockstar GTA Vice City, August 28, 2006
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August 29th, 2006 at 2:41 am
How exactly do violent video games “harm” our children? I would really like to know. Violence, sexuality, foul language, etc. It’s all a regular part of life. Based on my experience, parents have the potential to do far greater harm to their children by over-protecting them from the realities of life. Sorry, but reality is harsh and always will be. There is simply no getting around that unless all of humanity were to change. Not bloody likely. Personally, I think it’s good that there are rating systems in place so that a parent has the single most important tool they need to make an informed decision as to whether their child should be able to watch a given movie, or play a given video game, but it always must be the parents duty to make use of it. It’s the parents that need to be educated that (for example) they just can’t plant their child in front of a television and expect that to be a babysitter for them. That, as always and forever, is the parents duty and nobody elses. Notice I didn’t say that it was the parents ‘job’, as it really is a solemn duty that they have to their children. Far too many shirk that responsibility these days, prefering to blame others (like game developers) for all of the problems that they themselves are very likely responsible for in their sons and daughters. I’m gald to see logic and justive prevail in this case, as it should definitely not be the governments job to dictate what any person, of any age, can and cannot access when it comes to the various type of media available. When it comes right down to it, 99% of how a child will turn out when they become an adult will be directly linked to how their parent(s) raised them, and not anything else. Nobody likes to admit that (least of all me who is far too much like my father, whom I despise), but it’s true. Besides, who actually believes that seeing a violent act causes the person witnessing it to also become violent or act out? I watched tons of violent movies while growing up in the 80’s, yet I didn’t act out anything I saw on the big screen. I’ll grant that perhaps there are some unsettled youth out there that might, but whose fault is that really? Who made their kid the way they are, that they would be so succeptible? The parents of course. I’m willing to bet that those that do act out are likely a very vast minority, which only strengthens the reasons for leaving the government out of this. You can’t ruin things for the majority simply because of a few bad apples. That would be severely stupid. If anything, there should be much stronger laws aimed at bad parenting if you ask me. I mean, I see bad things in a video game or movie only once in a while, yet I see bad parenting and the effects of it far more often. Just take a stroll through your local mall and you’ll quickly see what I mean.
PS: Thank God for CTRL-C before posting. Like everyone else, I HATE YOUR STUPID VALIDATION STRING! Is that an Il1? Is that an 0O? Is that a 9g? Oh FFS, I give up!!!