Lawmakers Attack Violent Video Games

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

Legislators Attack Violent Video Games, Though Courts Repeatedly Grant Constitutional Protection

NEW YORK (AP) -- The video game industry seems to delight in pushing the envelope -- and the bounds of good taste -- with ever-gorier content. That has put it under renewed attack from legislators and activists who claim some titles must be kept out of kids' hands, though courts have repeatedly granted games First Amendment protections.

The opponents cite new research that they say suggests strong links between violent games and aggressive behavior. They are disturbed by games' cultural ubiquity and the always-improving technology that makes virtual gore more realistic than ever.

"Pediatricians and psychologists have been warning us that violent video games are harmful to children," said Mary Lou Dickerson, a Democratic legislator in Washington state who wrote a law now being challenged in federal court -- banning the sale of some violent games to kids. "I'm optimistic that the courts will heed their warnings."

Read entire story here.

[postage101]

Nothing new here ... Nothing to really be worried about either. I play violent games all the time and I don't go out beating people up ... you can't blame the game for something the kid does. Why waste the courts time? The same kids that do this, will still get the SAME GAMES! From other sources, they're parents probably buy them. Perhaps that where blame should be placed, parents. Theres an idea ...

[Mels_Smileys45]

In the 50's it was comic books. The government stepped in and finally the comic company's censored them selves from fear of being shut down. Did that stop real violence? no.

I remember in the early 80's they made the networks censor cartoons for being too violent. Violence continued anyway.

The video game companies have policed their own products and provided warnings, refused selling to minors (some titles), still the government wants to censor our "entertainment".

People need an outlet sometimes. Fragging it up can really feel good after a long day at work. In fact, there should be a game where you go to work and kill everyone and then try to make it back home in time for supper.

If getting rid of violence in video games would make violence go away I would be all for it. But it would have a null effect.

Could it be that both parents are forced to work all day and theres no one home to teach the children any ethics, morals and just basic BS you need to be a centered, well rounded, grocery getting, gas buying robot they want you to be?

[muffenme]

:fire

So what. ............................

:hole

[shawners]

maybe we can tell congress and politicians to stop war, since all the kids in there are being made violent.

[thewhitrbbit]

I play Grand Theft Auto and I don't go out and shoot cops or steal cars.

[hawkburn]

I also play GTA, and also every other game where you shoot another individual (call of duty, half life, battlefield 1942/vietnam, ut2004, etc) and I am one of the least-violent people I know.

When I went to buy FarCry from Gamestop, the guy asked me if I was 17, and I told him I was 16, and he didn't like the idea, but he sold it to me anyway. It's the same thing as allowing R rated films exist.. people buy them.. so the companies keep making them.. and then people keep buying them, and the cycle continues. It is the right to express themselves through violent games if they so wish to. Power to the people, and down with government surveillence!! <-- just had to add that in.

[flantanella]

a game like vice city is a classic

if parents are so freaking concern with their children and video games then dont fucking buy the damn game. stop forcing your will unto others

[Betamax]

If it were true that people who played 'violent' games became violent as a result then this would make Japan the most violent country in the world. Yet this is not the case, and Japan is, by all accounts, one of the most peaceful countries in the world. There's no real correlation in these 'studeis' and their are numerous real studies that have proven that games are benificial in many ways.

[DemonusAE]

There are many things that can make a kid turn to violence, a video game might be one of them but not the sole reason for behavior problems. I don't believe kids should be exposed to graphic material, including games. The point is that my definition of a child is 12 years or younger and ofcourse depends on the mentality of the person in question. The fact that your 16 and play Vice City won't want to make you to steal a car. But if your 8 and playing King Of Fighters:Maximum Impact and your little sister starts to bug you, you might just feel like busting her jaw with that brand new combo special you just learned.

[XtraNtnse]

Well those lawmakers should be shot. :shoot

[que-em]

Lawmakers attack violent video games....because real life is so perfect and so full of non-violence the games must be were kids get their violent behavior from.

Give me a break. If for once they would focus on the real problems. Their full of sh!t as usual and so detached from the average American they don't know what is going on. It always amazes me why other developed countries don't have half the problem we have and when they do they actually solve them.

They always come up with the easiest "solution" that will give them the most votes. And considering the piss poor job they do they definately don't deserve the saleries they have along with the annual increases adjusted for the cost of living.

[shawners]

Yeah but its congress and politicians who send kids to war. They cant do anything against video game manufacturers.

[Wolfie]

Its so typical that ppl blame showcomings in parenting skills on everything else other than where the problem is. Its your job to raise your kids right not TV, radio, video games, internet, public schools and ultimately the government. I played video games, watched TV, listened to rock music, surfed the internet (all the internet not just squeaky clean parts), and went to public school (with the drugs, sex and social cliques associated with it) and still haven't gone nuts in crowded mall with a loaded AK-47.

[CCSDUDE]

Yeah...and we're going to see GTA meets Manhunt....

That's gonna 0wn...blood guts beheadings an carjackin all rolled into one game! Suck that lawmakers.