Get to know Massachusetts bill HB 1423. It's the newest in a long line of anti-video game propositions that would seek to restrict or outright ban the sale of video games that depict violence unless the buyer is over 18. The bill seeks to categorize this type of video game as equivalent to pornography by arguing that violent games lack any sort of artistic merit and/or are insensible to community standards.
In response to this proposed law, the Video Game Voters Network and the Entertainment Software Association are urging gamers in the state of Massachusetts to take a stand against this bill by submitting a letter to their representative stating their opposition to drafting the bill into law. If you're not a resident of Massachusetts there's no need to weigh in on this with your local government just yet, so for now just continue to fight the good fight on all things related to you.
So far legal precedent has favored the video game industry by declaring all previous bills of the same type as unconstitutional, with judges making the point that video games, just like any other form of media, will be protected under the First Amendment.
The VGVN and ESA contacted X-Play to also point out that the ESRB rating system that every game follows is a perfectly satisfactory for informing consumers of in-game content they might find questionable, leaving the responsibility of moderating video game habits up to parents and buyers and not the government.
"Massachusetts deserves better," said RIch Taylor, Senior VP for Communications at the ESA. "The proposed legislation ignores the unbroken chain of circuit court rulings and other decisions that already determined similar laws were unconstitutional.
"However, we maintain a deep level of respect for his and Massachusetts legislators’ concerns. We know that with the ESRB ratings, parental education, and the parental controls available on all new video game consoles, there are myriad ways that those concerned can ensure that children play appropriate, parent-approved computer and video games. We stand ready to work cooperatively to increase parental awareness and usage of these critical tools.”
We here at X-Play and The Feed love hearing an organization take a strong position in defending the rights of people who love and enjoy video games. It doesn't happen often enough...
Comment(s)
Why, if these parents, I note that the article does not mention any specific group lobbying the Mass. Bill, really give a flipping fry about their children, does it make it any sense to have a bill that again pushes the child away at arms length?
Are these people really that afraid of opening the door to violence or even facing a child's curiosity about death?
This government supported pacifying of our society is sick, and everyone should be ashamed of it.
Screw massachusetts in their tiny holes. (the issue may have been about gay marriage, but in a democracy it doesn't matter what the issue is, the majority is supposed to have their way. We have to defend the people's right to a voice or numerous more important things could be denied voice)
Besides, what game arent 'violent' anymore? Not a lot. Hell, even Lego games are semi-violent.
Most gamers nowadays are people over 20 years old since the average zit faced teen ager can't afford a $400 console with games that cost $60.
It's funny how politicians give us lectures about morality when they are the most corrupt vermins who use our tax dollars for their sexual needs.
Go figure.
I watched GI Joe, Johnny Quest, Transformers... cartoons that used guns, I never shot anyone.
I've been firing guns in a shooting range since I was 14, noever shot anyone.
I bought my first rifle when I turned 18, I never shot anyone.
I have half a dozen fire arms... never went on a shooting spree.
I am well trained in martial arts, never had to use it other than "self defense".
Yet I grew up fine, never been arrested, no drugs, no tickets... nothing.
I think my parents did a heck of a job. And yes, they too had multiple jobs and we lived in the ghetto where some people shot one another for sport, until we became successful and moved out. We made it without handsouts.
P.S.
Violence/Sex is what makes the world go round and the way it is today.