Rated ‘M’ for $2,000 Fine – La. Senate to Debate on Video Game Sales Ban
Representative Roy Burrell of the Louisiana Senate claims that violent video games can be a “training ground” for violence in real life. Burrell inspired other representatives to unanimously agree with him. The La. Senate has proceeded to assemble several ways to prevent the distribution of mentally-damaging video games by creating a bill in question.
The bill will fine any game store clerk who distributes violent games to minors that are younger than 18 years old. The fine can range anywhere from $100 to $2,000 USD. Harmful games are determined by taking three factors into consideration:
-An average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the video or computer game, taken as a whole, appeals to the minorÂ’s morbid interest in violence;
-a game depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors; or
-a game, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
The bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives with an 102-0 vote. Currently, the La. Senate is still waiting to hear from the U.S. Senate. By looking at the results so far, it looks as if the bill will be made into a law.
During a conference to lobby the bill to the Senate Judiciary A Committee, Burrell showed graphic footage of Grand Theft Auto. The footage involved several police men being chain-sawed to death, sexual activity in a car, and dead hookers. “There are a lot of other scenes in the video we chose not to show in public,” Burrell told the committee.
Many people spoke out against the bill. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) claimed that the bill invaded First Amendment rights. New Orleans attorney William Rittenburg said that the guidelines of determining a violent video game were too vague.
Despite the criticism, things are looking up for House Bill 1381. Will Louisiana set an example for the rest of the world?
Representative Roy Burrell of the Louisiana Senate claims that violent video games can be a “training ground” for violence in real life. Burrell inspired other representatives to unanimously agree with him. The La. Senate has proceeded to assemble several ways to prevent the distribution of mentally-damaging video games by creating a bill in question.
The bill will fine any game store clerk who distributes violent games to minors that are younger than 18 years old. The fine can range anywhere from $100 to $2,000 USD. Harmful games are determined by taking three factors into consideration:
-An average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the video or computer game, taken as a whole, appeals to the minorÂ’s morbid interest in violence;
-a game depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors; or
-a game, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
The bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives with an 102-0 vote. Currently, the La. Senate is still waiting to hear from the U.S. Senate. By looking at the results so far, it looks as if the bill will be made into a law.
During a conference to lobby the bill to the Senate Judiciary A Committee, Burrell showed graphic footage of Grand Theft Auto. The footage involved several police men being chain-sawed to death, sexual activity in a car, and dead hookers. “There are a lot of other scenes in the video we chose not to show in public,” Burrell told the committee.
Many people spoke out against the bill. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) claimed that the bill invaded First Amendment rights. New Orleans attorney William Rittenburg said that the guidelines of determining a violent video game were too vague.
Despite the criticism, things are looking up for House Bill 1381. Will Louisiana set an example for the rest of the world?
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