Illinois Gov Blo Spins Wheels
On Monday, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced he's signing legislation making Illinois the only state in the nation to prohibit the sale or rental of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors - This according to Tuesday's Chicago Tribune. All the usual and expected bases are covered in the article - Retail associations filing suits immediately; Quotes from experts about censorship; Quotes from experts about impact to children; Quotes about government letting parents raise their children. While the article does not indicate how the legislation defines "violent or sexually explicit content", it indicates that the law contains these definitions.
-Trib quotes: "Other cities and states have attempted similar legislation, only to have courts strike it down as unnecessarily restrictive of free speech." Attorney Katherine Fallow for several merchant associations: "We don't believe any of these laws can be constitutional, which is what every court that has addressed this issue has said."
-The state is confident in the constitutionality of the law for many reasons, including the solid definition of the content in question.
-Gov. Blog says he got the idea for the law last year when he found out about JFK Reloaded, which is, I believe, a game ONLY available for download on the web and has never been available at retail/rental.
-The Gov's office cites the standard University study that shows frequent players demonstrate increased aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors and decreased helping behaviors. Sounds like lots of normal teens to me. Plus, according to Fallow, every case has brought up this sort of point, and every court has rejected it as insufficient to warrant the free speech restriction. It seems we always get the university study references in these proposals. Where are the incredible, jaw-dropping statistics supporting the need for legislation? Where are the increased state-wide teen car-jackings and president assasinations? Where's the evidence that children need saving? Let children be children and let the parents parent.
The link (click the title) is to a 2003 article about a court decision concerning a similar law proposed in Indianapolis. It was struck down. I predict that's the destiny of the Illinois law as well.
-Trib quotes: "Other cities and states have attempted similar legislation, only to have courts strike it down as unnecessarily restrictive of free speech." Attorney Katherine Fallow for several merchant associations: "We don't believe any of these laws can be constitutional, which is what every court that has addressed this issue has said."
-The state is confident in the constitutionality of the law for many reasons, including the solid definition of the content in question.
-Gov. Blog says he got the idea for the law last year when he found out about JFK Reloaded, which is, I believe, a game ONLY available for download on the web and has never been available at retail/rental.
-The Gov's office cites the standard University study that shows frequent players demonstrate increased aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors and decreased helping behaviors. Sounds like lots of normal teens to me. Plus, according to Fallow, every case has brought up this sort of point, and every court has rejected it as insufficient to warrant the free speech restriction. It seems we always get the university study references in these proposals. Where are the incredible, jaw-dropping statistics supporting the need for legislation? Where are the increased state-wide teen car-jackings and president assasinations? Where's the evidence that children need saving? Let children be children and let the parents parent.
The link (click the title) is to a 2003 article about a court decision concerning a similar law proposed in Indianapolis. It was struck down. I predict that's the destiny of the Illinois law as well.
posted by Paul at 1:40 AM
1 Comments:
I just love legislation that will have no real effect. If it's shot down in court it was a waste of time and money. Most stores already won't sell M rated games to people under the age of 18. Heck, I was carded at Best Buy when I bought Doom 3.
Post a Comment
<< Home