Ill. Lawmakers Vote to ban violent Vid-Game Sales to minors
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Yet another in the string of "parents aren't doing their jobs, so the state must step in and do it for them" laws....
Lets see how long this one stands though.
From Associated Press, found via IWon.com, headline is linked.
Ill. Lawmakers Vote on Video Game Sales Ban
May 29, 5:42 AM (ET)
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Lawmakers voted Saturday to ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors in Illinois, a move other states and cities have tried but federal courts have repeatedly struck down.
The measure now goes to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who proposed the ban late last year after hearing about the video game "JFK Reloaded," which puts the player in the role of President Kennedy's assassin.
"In today's world, parents face unprecedented challenges in monitoring and protecting their children from harmful influences. This bill will make their job easier," Blagojevich said, praising the House's 106-6 vote. The state Senate approved the bill earlier this month.
Under the legislation, clerks who knowingly sell adult video games to minors could be fined $1,000. They could defend themselves by showing they did not know the buyer was a minor or that they followed the industry ratings on the games.
The legislation leaves it to stores to determine which games are too violent or sexually explicit for minors, and retailers have argued it turns them into violence and sensitivity police.
A federal judge last summer struck down a Washington state ban as a violation of free speech because it prohibited selling to minors video games depicting violence against police officers but not other depictions of violence. Federal courts have also struck down bans in Indianapolis and St. Louis County, Mo., saying the measures encroach on the First Amendment.
The judge in Washington state also determined the ban was too broad because it was unclear which games would be banned - something Illinois lawmakers say could be a problem with the legislation now headed to Blagojevich's desk.
"What we have is all we ever get - all fluff and no stuff," Republican Rep. Bill Black said.
But supporters insisted the government has a duty to help parents shield children from violence and sexuality. "Don't let them become the monsters that we see in these violent games," Democratic Rep. Monique Davis said.
emphasis added
Yup, even though other states and localities have seen their laws in these areas tossed because they over-step constitutional authoritiy, Illinois has opted to give it a go, since there are idiots like Rep. Monique Davis that are out there ready to help parents so much.
The worst part is that Rep.'s like Davis don't get what the bigger issue is -- parents need help in the "form of" (bonus points for people that get that reference from bad 70's cartoons for $1000 Alex) more money and more free time.
Parents are over-worked, in many places under-paid, and are stretched to their limits. They don't necessarily have time to monitor their children every minute of every day. That's just a lovely side effect of having both parents work. Something that the liberals really supported early on, when it was benefitting women's liberation and such. Only now it's had a horrible impact on family values and family life. People became too dependent on dual incomes, and the luxuries that might come from them. Hell, people have become too dependent on dual incomes just for the necessities in many places.
Young couples buy a home so they can have kids, or because they have kids. They struggle and work their butts off to pay for the payments for the home that is probably larger than what they need, but which they are sure they'll fill up as they buy more stuff for themselves and their kids. And as that stuff is bought, they don't necessarily have time to pay attention to what is being purchased. A CD with explicit lyrics? I didn't notice that, when did the kids get that?! This super violent video game? Who let the kid get that. Damn, the government must do more to help me here!! Make those evil sales people stop taking my kids money for selling them games they want. Wah! Wah! Wah!
How about if mommy and daddy actually slowed down a bit and worked with junior to remind him (or her) that life isn't about the stuff. That they don't have to have every game that they see or hear about. That they aren't in a contest to keep up with the Jones and Smiths. How about if mommy and daddy actually set rules for their children that meant that their kids couldn't buy video games and music without a parents approval? Perhaps then the government wouldn't need to play mother and father, and big brother.
Oh well..... back to reality, or some TV version of it....
Lets see how long this one stands though.
From Associated Press, found via IWon.com, headline is linked.
Ill. Lawmakers Vote on Video Game Sales Ban
May 29, 5:42 AM (ET)
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Lawmakers voted Saturday to ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors in Illinois, a move other states and cities have tried but federal courts have repeatedly struck down.
The measure now goes to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who proposed the ban late last year after hearing about the video game "JFK Reloaded," which puts the player in the role of President Kennedy's assassin.
"In today's world, parents face unprecedented challenges in monitoring and protecting their children from harmful influences. This bill will make their job easier," Blagojevich said, praising the House's 106-6 vote. The state Senate approved the bill earlier this month.
Under the legislation, clerks who knowingly sell adult video games to minors could be fined $1,000. They could defend themselves by showing they did not know the buyer was a minor or that they followed the industry ratings on the games.
The legislation leaves it to stores to determine which games are too violent or sexually explicit for minors, and retailers have argued it turns them into violence and sensitivity police.
A federal judge last summer struck down a Washington state ban as a violation of free speech because it prohibited selling to minors video games depicting violence against police officers but not other depictions of violence. Federal courts have also struck down bans in Indianapolis and St. Louis County, Mo., saying the measures encroach on the First Amendment.
The judge in Washington state also determined the ban was too broad because it was unclear which games would be banned - something Illinois lawmakers say could be a problem with the legislation now headed to Blagojevich's desk.
"What we have is all we ever get - all fluff and no stuff," Republican Rep. Bill Black said.
But supporters insisted the government has a duty to help parents shield children from violence and sexuality. "Don't let them become the monsters that we see in these violent games," Democratic Rep. Monique Davis said.
emphasis added
Yup, even though other states and localities have seen their laws in these areas tossed because they over-step constitutional authoritiy, Illinois has opted to give it a go, since there are idiots like Rep. Monique Davis that are out there ready to help parents so much.
The worst part is that Rep.'s like Davis don't get what the bigger issue is -- parents need help in the "form of" (bonus points for people that get that reference from bad 70's cartoons for $1000 Alex) more money and more free time.
Parents are over-worked, in many places under-paid, and are stretched to their limits. They don't necessarily have time to monitor their children every minute of every day. That's just a lovely side effect of having both parents work. Something that the liberals really supported early on, when it was benefitting women's liberation and such. Only now it's had a horrible impact on family values and family life. People became too dependent on dual incomes, and the luxuries that might come from them. Hell, people have become too dependent on dual incomes just for the necessities in many places.
Young couples buy a home so they can have kids, or because they have kids. They struggle and work their butts off to pay for the payments for the home that is probably larger than what they need, but which they are sure they'll fill up as they buy more stuff for themselves and their kids. And as that stuff is bought, they don't necessarily have time to pay attention to what is being purchased. A CD with explicit lyrics? I didn't notice that, when did the kids get that?! This super violent video game? Who let the kid get that. Damn, the government must do more to help me here!! Make those evil sales people stop taking my kids money for selling them games they want. Wah! Wah! Wah!
How about if mommy and daddy actually slowed down a bit and worked with junior to remind him (or her) that life isn't about the stuff. That they don't have to have every game that they see or hear about. That they aren't in a contest to keep up with the Jones and Smiths. How about if mommy and daddy actually set rules for their children that meant that their kids couldn't buy video games and music without a parents approval? Perhaps then the government wouldn't need to play mother and father, and big brother.
Oh well..... back to reality, or some TV version of it....