Another Judge In Favor of Video Games

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the booming gaming community finds another ally in Judge James Brady as he rules against a law that bans the sales of violent video games. This is not the first time as other states like Minnesota, Illinois, California and Michigan had similar bans blocked in the courts.

U.S. District Judge James Brady referred to such laws as invasion of the First Amendment, then issued an injunction. According to him, “Depictions of violence are entitled to full constitutional protection.” In a similar event, a federal judge issued the state of Louisiana to pay three business groups including Entertainment Software Association more than $510,000 as legal fees.

Governor Kathleen Blanco then, after losing the court battle, appealed to parents to protect their children. “I’m calling on all parents to diligently monitor the video games that their children are allowed to play. If the courts can not protect our children, then we need to do it by rejecting the merchant of violence.“

Those states that attempt to impose a ban argue that video games should be treated differently because its interactive nature encourages violence and it can be psychologically harmful to minors. The law sought to imposed both fine of up to $2,000 and one year in prison if the video game is proven to be appealing to a morbid interest in violence, patently offensive to an adult and the games are lacking in artistic, political or scientific value.

All above mentioned basis were nullified and deemed insufficient by the court one way or the other.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the booming gaming community finds another ally in Judge James Brady as he rules against a law that bans the sales of violent video games. This is not the first time as other states like Minnesota, Illinois, California and Michigan had similar bans blocked in the courts.

U.S. District Judge James Brady referred to such laws as invasion of the First Amendment, then issued an injunction. According to him, “Depictions of violence are entitled to full constitutional protection.” In a similar event, a federal judge issued the state of Louisiana to pay three business groups including Entertainment Software Association more than $510,000 as legal fees.

Governor Kathleen Blanco then, after losing the court battle, appealed to parents to protect their children. “I’m calling on all parents to diligently monitor the video games that their children are allowed to play. If the courts can not protect our children, then we need to do it by rejecting the merchant of violence.“

Those states that attempt to impose a ban argue that video games should be treated differently because its interactive nature encourages violence and it can be psychologically harmful to minors. The law sought to imposed both fine of up to $2,000 and one year in prison if the video game is proven to be appealing to a morbid interest in violence, patently offensive to an adult and the games are lacking in artistic, political or scientific value.

All above mentioned basis were nullified and deemed insufficient by the court one way or the other.