Update on Videogame Laws
An update on a Federal and State level of laws trying to be passed around the country which pertain to videogames, and in some cases, actually fining the underage kid buying them. Read inside for the entire update. UNSCleric.com seems to be one of the only videogames sites dealing with issues like this (which is basically the eventual banning and censoring of games completely) as well as the Net Neutrality issue, which is being hidden from the public, and will spell the end for most, if not all online gaming if people don’t wake up.
Federal Update
Thanks in large part to your efforts, the Clinton Lieberman Bayh Family Entertainment Protection Act has not yet been acted on in the Senate. VGVN members sent an unprecedented 24,600 letters to the Senate, urging their Senators not to pass this unconstitutional legislation. If federal legislation is passed which unconstitutionally limits free speech and art, who knows what will be next?
Have you emailed your Senators yet?
State Update
Since launching a few months ago, the Video Game Voters Network has been activating members in the states with pending video game legislation. This is the first time state legislators have heard from gamers in unison. Here’s our state by state breakdown update:
Minnesota: State Representative Jeff Johnson and State Senator Sandra Pappas introduced legislation, SF 785 which would fine kids for buying M and AO rated games games. VGVN members were active and enthusiastic in reaching out to their elected officials.
VGVN member, Michael Demopoulos received a letter from his state representative, Denise Dittrich, who was a co-author of the bill, indicating that she removed her support from the bill. Unfortunately, this legislation, the first ever to fine children for purchasing constitutionally protected speech passed and was signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty. The ESA filed suit and will now fight this legislation through the court system.
Oklahoma: Representative Fred Morgan introduced House Bill 3004, which passed in the State House and Senate, but not before Oklahoma VGVN members wrote their elected officials to express their discontent and opposition to the bill. Governor Brad Henry recently signed this bill into law, and it will go into effect on November 1, 2006. This law defines violent video games as “harmful to minors”, thus makes it illegal for them to be sold or rented to minors in the state. The Entertainment Software Association intends to file suit in Oklahoma’s federal district court to overturn this unconstitutional law.
Louisiana: Last week, after passing in both the Louisiana State Senate and House, HB 1381 was signed into law by Governor Kathleen Blanco. This bill bans the sale or rental of any video game to minors containing depictions of violence. Game retailers violating the bill face penalties of up to $2,000 in fines and/or up to a year of imprisonment, with or without hard labor. The ESA has filed suit to block the implementation of this law. We’ll keep you updated on the status of this harmful bill as developments occur in the coming weeks or months.
Additional legislation targeting video games was introduced in the Louisiana House by Representative Crowe. This bill, HB 254 was amended to require retailers to conduct identification checks for anyone purchasing M or AO-rated games to establish that the person is of appropriate age to purchase. Due to the lack of support for the bill, Representative Crowe withdrew HB 254 from consideration.
Senator Cain’s bill, SB 340, was also passed last week, and currently sits on Governor Blanco’s desk for consideration. SB 340 adds video games to the state’s “Harmful to Minors” statute, thereby closing an existing loophole in the law so that video games are treated the same as movies, books and music.
Kansas: Senator Brownback, a longtime opponent of games, held hearings in Washington, D.C. for the purpose of establishing a link between video games and violence. VGVN members in Kansas responded immediately by asking him to oppose any and all unconstitutional regulation of this protected entertainment medium.
June 20th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Well I do support trying to keep Mature and AO-rated games out of the hands of minors, I fear this is a slippery slope which could lead to merchants treating games like pornography. It may also lead to more and more developers holding back on their games to make the games T to avoid any problems with an M rating. Alot like movies studios prefer to make PG-13 movies instead of R because R-rated movies make less money. The next few weeks in regards to this and Net Neutrality could effect all of us for years to come…
August 11th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
[...] 6.20.06: Update on Video Game Laws [...]