Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston is leading a crusade to push legislation that would allow the state of Massachusetts to treat violent video games as pornography, so their sale could be restricted. The bill is similar to legislation declared unconstitutional in Louisiana and Utah.
“Children aged 17 and under should not be sold this stuff, so they are not getting into the hands of 9- and 10-year-olds,” said Larry Mayes, Menino’s chief of human services.
“Is it going to be an uphill battle? Sure. But it’s absolutely a battle that the mayor feels he should take on.”
“I think this legislation is a good idea,” said state Rep. Christine E. Canavan (D-Brockton), a co-sponsor of the legislation that will be heard tomorrow.
“I don’t want this constant barrage of violence on young minds and for them to think it is all right,” she said.
Opponents of the proposed law point out that other forms of media aren’t restricted in such a way. Nine similar proposals have already been shot down by federal court.
“Every time states have tried to restrict access to First Amendment-protected material, it has been considered unconstitutional,” said Dan Hewitt, spokesman for the Entertainment Software Association , which represents the U.S. computer and video gaming industry.
District Court Judge James Brady ordered a permanent injunction to block implementation of a similar statute in Louisiana.
In his judgment, Brady said video games are “as much entitled to the protection of free speech as the best of literature.”
The games industry voluntarily rates titles and clearly labels them so that games with mature content will remain out of the hands of children. Restrictions and penalties should be the jurisdiction of parents, not the government on any level.
via Boston Herald
6 Comments to Boston Mayor Pushing Restrictions on Violent Video Games
by: erathoniel
On March 17, 2008 at 5:50 pm
There’s a limit. For instance, a five year old should not play an M game or see an R movie. However, I recommend the age of 13 as the minimum age, with parent approval for content. I feel that this is best because it means that there will be less of a chance of children turning out bad from violent video games. I play video games all the time, don’t get me wrong, but some M games have content an R movie would view as taboo or over-the-edge, and I feel that the added interactivity (Wii Manhunt 2) may make a game unsuitable for children.
by: Rollett
On March 17, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I think its the parents choice to deside whats Suitable for their children… Not Your’s Erathoniel or anyone elses… Problem is.. most parents just turn their back side or don’t care….
The Goverment and the people who have power keep attacking the wrong group.. its not the TV’s or the Games.. or the music.. its the God danm Mom’s and Dad’s!
by: Housemaster
On March 17, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I am 16 now so in another year I wont care. But I agree with Rollett it should be up to the parents not the government to decide on what there kids should play. Same with movies, music, and them old comic books. I will not play a game like manhunt 1 or 2 I just don’t like that type of game. mindless killing is just not fun.
by: Mustikos
On March 18, 2008 at 6:23 am
I am sorry but if your a parent and you can’t understand that M means Mature and that you don’t know whether your 3 year old is mature enough, then you shouldn’t be allowed to have kids..
by: Mustikos
On March 18, 2008 at 6:36 am
I forgot which idiot in Boston freaked out the most about the aqua teen “bombing” thing but I never will forget the quote I saw from him during this “They had wires and batteries , they where very sinister” OMG if something has wires and batteries it must be evil! So watch out the next time you play your I-pod, get on your cell phone because those machines are the magic of the devil and will condemn your should to hell!!……
When/if the time comes and we finally invent warp drive or whatever, imho people like these people shouldn’t be allowed to leave the planet.
by: Baby Girl
On January 11, 2012 at 6:09 am
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