Victory for Thompson as Louisiana passes game bill

***wraggster*** · June 8th, 2006, 16:26

The Lousiana Senate has passed HB1381, a bill designed to restrict the sale of games with violent content which was co-authored by notorious anti-videogames campaigner Jack Thompson.

HB1381, which Thompson wrote together with Representative Roy Burrell, would make it illegal to sell or rent out a game to a minor if it met three conditions. Namely, if an "average person" would consider that it "appeals to the minor's morbid interest in violence"; if the game "depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards"; and if it "lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors." Anyone violating the law could face a fine of up to USD 2000 and a maximum 12 month prison sentence.

The bill was approved by a key committee last week and has now been unanimously passed by the Louisiana State Senate. It's now up to Governor Kathleen Blanco to sign the bill into law - which seems highly likely.

It's also likely that the Entertainment Software Association will respond with the threat of legal action, as in the case of the bill passed in Minnesota recently.

Meanwhile, New York Senator Hillary Clinton has called for the US Government to support further research into the effects of electronic media on children - including TV and the Internet as well as videogames.

"We don't know the effects," Clinton told the audience at an event organised by the New America Foundation.

"Never have children been raised in such a media-saturated environment. How do we get more research, better facts and evidence?"

Clinton is hoping Congress will approve a bill she has co-authored which, if it became law, would impose fines on anyone selling or renting Mature or Adults Only-rated games to minors.

Earlier this week, her office released a downloadable "media guide" designed to help parents understand the ratings systems used for TV and games, and how to make use of the parental control option featured in many electronic entertainment devices. "Obviously parents are on the front line, but a lot of them need help," Clinton commented.

Via Gamesindustry

**sroon** · June 8th, 2006, 17:18

Good Job!!!
Whos A Good Boy?
You Are!!
Yes You Are...yeeees You Are!!

**jOeBrO** · June 8th, 2006, 17:23

WHAT?!?!? I LIVE IN LA!! (but i'm 17 hahahaha)

**muffinman** · June 8th, 2006, 17:55

isnt 17 still a minor?

anyways that sucks cause the uk's only going to copy america

**Poem58** · June 8th, 2006, 19:08

There's a politician for you...

"lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors."

Gee..that now allows every non "educational" videogame on the planet to be viewed as illegal! After all could Pac Man fit into those categories??

Thompson must have gotten caught playing porn games on his Atari 2600 and been against games ever since....or just a retard...yeah..I'll go with he's a retard.

Forrest Thompson : "Momma always said life is like a video game, it's always gets you shot in the face"

**been09** · June 8th, 2006, 19:19

Its just politics. They don't give a damn about minors and violent games, they just want to be seen in a good light. Thompson as well just wants the spotlight, since almost every case that involves games like GTA, he suddenly appears. Hillary Clinton as well, who just wants to wants to gain support as a senator.

They proally haven't even played a video games in their life. I'm just waiting until the older generation of politicians die off and the new generation comes in. They don't understand the concept of games, in which you do things you can't do in real life. Most people understand it, but its only those few dumb*sses that don't understand it, that gain the media spotlight.

**rememberthe8bit** · June 8th, 2006, 19:23

This bill is so loosely made that I doubt that anyone could enforce it. The whole basis for determining if a game is "illegal" for minors or not, is based entirely on opinion, not hard facts. This is just some crappy legislation that will just be ignored as if it didn't exist. Now, if they more enforced the selling of "M" rated games to minors, I could see that being a resonable thing to implement. Because, everyone can see if a game is "M" or not.

Originally Posted by been09

They don't understand the concept of games, in which you do things you can't do in real life.

Indeed, that's the whole point of even playing games.
Even games other than videogames are just created to entertain us and, sometimes, allow us to do things that would be improper or impossible to do anywhere else.

**KriMe** · June 8th, 2006, 21:17

Originally Posted by wraggster

Namely, if an "average person" would consider that it "appeals to the minor's morbid interest in violence"; if the game "depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards"; and if it "lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors."

So by those standards if me being an "average person" find a football (U.S.A. football) game to "depict violence" because guys are smashing into eachother tring to hurt someone else to get a pigskin ball and a vendor sells that game to my son i could press charges?

It goes back to the same issue with all things negative relating to kids, the parents.

When little joey comes to school and mow's down 1/2 of his classmates with a ak-47 kuz he gets picked on in school or got a bad grade in math who does everyone point the finger at?

The media...
1. The video games; Grand Theft Auto's fault or Doom's fault or a plethora of others.
2. The Music they listen to; Marilyn Manson or Slipkont ect.
3. The movies they watch; there are so many gory movies i could list.

But the parent of little joey say oh it cant be our fault he was a happy kid. He came home and went in his room and quietlly played video games and listened to music. He was a good kid, it had to be these influences that caused my child to do that. Yes, that may be partially true that those things did have a negitive influence on little joey but his parents lack of possitive influence was never there to teach him right from wrong and reality from fantasy.

Whenever something tragic happens we (mass media) always point the finger at what is easiest to blame. Instead of looking at ourselvs we choose to point at others. Like with columbine, they blamed video games and marilyn manson and all these media related influences. Who didnt they point the finger at? The kids that everyday picked on, spit on, called names, and generally made the kids who did it lives' a utter pain living.

I have been there and seen it, I was one of those kids that got picked on. The difference was is my parents were always there to help me with my problems and growing up taught me right from wrong.

I think all these bills and media censorship are just a reflection of our society's non-involvement in their childrens lives. If a parent did their job and raised their child it would change.

Before gory movies and video games and rock music we had sinceless murder and crime and we always will ask Cain and Able.

Parents spend time with your kids be a part of their lives and teach them to grow into a productive possitive part of society.

thanks