According to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, convicted criminals in the Wisconsin penal system are not allowed to play the pen and paper version of Dungeons and Dragons. The court upheld an earlier ruling concerning Kevin T. Singer. Singer, a convicted murderer and presumably nerd, had his D&D materials confiscated from his cell by the guards at Waupun prison back in 2004.
Singer argued that confiscating his little D&D books and fruity dice and lead figurines of elves was a violation of his 1st Amendment rights. The courts disagreed. Can you guess why the State forbids D&D? Here's a quiz:
Q: Wisconsin banned Dungeons and Dragons material from prison because:
1) Potential inmate violence against D&D playing prisoners.
2) "Weapons Guide" information could be used to fashion actual weapons.
3) The only real prison is in the Mind, so anything that helps prisoners mentally escape incarceration is verboten.
4) Dungeons and Dragons promotes gang activity.
If you said "4," Give yourself a +2 to your intelligence modifier; you are correct, sir. This case marks the one time in human history when a group of players of Dungeons and Dragons were considered a "gang" as opposed to "a bunch of damn nerds."
Source: Kare11
*Disclaimer: I still play D&D, so I can make fun of it. You non role-players better show respect.
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Hello
I love D&D! Why is it banned in prison?!?!?!?!
ganjasaurus_rex
Do they have that big an epidemic of inmates brandishing double-bladed vorpal toothbrushes to warrant this?
Collective_Restraint
Don't care about what was the judge's motive to ban it. IT'S A PRISON, why the hell should they be allowed to have fun ?
scorpian876
Sound like mentally retarded people confusing reality with fantasy.If a prisoner thinks he is inspired
by a paper and pencil fantasy RPG game and thinks he is a D&D character in real life has to be insane.I never seen a D&D game inspire gang violence in my entire life.Come on people !Get a clue,
I wish who ever is confusing RPG games with gang violence is not bright!
silent_jedi
Could you just see what it would be like if they were allowed to play WoW? What kind of insanity would ensue with a whole Horde/Alliance faction war going on in the prison? Talk about one terrible yet hilarious way for a prison riot to start.
friendofbud666
Do you think they will be checking their jail purse for hidden D&D contraband?
BertSaxby
Ridiculous. I guess they'll just have to go back to making shivs.
bunnyglomp
damn. dude musta rolled a 1 when he went against the judge
Boss's love 1's
Hinanator
I can imagine the players developing a 'module' that is the exact layout of the prison. I'd magic missile that too!
ZyloWolfBane
Id like to know why there would be inmates who would even play D&D whereas if they werent imprisioned that would beat up and rob people who do.
Irony?
Moye
I'd like to see proof that D&D promotes gang activity and violence.
contactone
God, I would love to see the crew of guys he plays with. This whole story sounds like a script for a movie. You know, ex con used D&D to teach inner city kids out to get along.
XFRod
GURPS, Toon, Star Frontiers, Shadowrun, Car Wars..... Can they still play those?
ZyloWolfBane
Looks like Kevin needed to use his saving throw on that one.
The Emperor's Champion
Wow.... Now if I ever go to Wisconsin I can claim to be a founding member of a major Texas gang???
LarcenousLaugh
Apparently he failed his hide in shadows check. Shame.
I would really like to know how they were able to get a game going seeing that 45% of the interaction is based around mountain dew and cheetos.
brujula17
How can the answer be number 4, when all of them have the number 1?
JMShan88
every option is the NUMBER ONE DAWG
IrishDragon79
I wish to use my potion of dexterity to give myself +5 grip, now I must roll a 4 or higher so I do not drop the soap.
SigersonLTD
I was going to say all of the above, actually.
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