Howdy Gamers! It’s been a while, but your old pal Elder is back with a tired refrain, Why is it that some folks Continue to blame videogames for the violent behavior of some of today’s youth? The answer, because it’s easy!

In this election year, more and more of our elected officials have jumped on this hot button issue and drafted legislation designed to protect our Children from the dangers of M (Mature) rated games. They bring out studies and surveys stating the adverse reactions that Kids have after playing violent video games. If you don’t know any better, some of the reports will make you believe that playing a mature rated video game will turn you into a crazed maniacal killer.

Bills introduced by various lawmakers have attempted to wrest away a Parents right to choose what is appropriate for their Children to purchase.

On February 11, 2003, Congressman Joe Baca (D – California) introduced H.R. 669. The bill imposes penalties on those who sell or rent to minors video games that depict nudity, sexual conduct, or other content harmful to minors. H.R. 669 was drafted in response to a December 2001 Federal Trade Commission study which showed that four out of five children between the ages of 13 and 16 are able to purchase “Mature”-rated games. The report stated that these games allow players to watch strip shows, have simulated sex with prostitutes, assault innocent bystanders, car-jack soccer moms, use illegal drugs, commit mass murder, and kill police officers.

Assemblyman Leland Yee, (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill this month that would prevent retailers from selling minors so- called “ultra-violent, first-person shooter games” and requiring stores to display Mature-rated games separately and above eye level for most kids. Violent video games teach kids how to shoot, maim and hurt people, and they learn how to execute some of these atrocious behaviors without emotions,” said Yee.

There is a debate among academics about whether video games make children more aggressive. A number of efforts across the country to regulate the industry have been challenged in court and determined to be in violation of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. John Sellars, of Zanesville, Ohio is the father of three children, ages 15, 13, and 10. He and the children play video games.

“I watch what they play and I decide what they play, I don’t think it should be up to the lawmakers to decide, it should be up to the parents. My children know what they see on the screen is fake because I’ve told them it’s not real. (Video games) don’t make you violent; I think it’s all how you are raised.” T. Hartman, a Zanesville Ohio father of six, agreed.

“I’m against any ban like that, It’s cutting in on your rights. It takes a lot more than picking up a controller to a game to make you violent. Violence is a long thing brewing. I’d say if you’d look at the kids who are violent, they come from broken homes … they didn’t have the family nucleus in place. … And besides, these games are $40 and $50 apiece. Kids don’t have money like that — their parents are buying them anyway. A bill like that wouldn’t do anything.”

Though local bans have been enacted in several communities nationwide, many have been overturned by the United States Federal Appeals Court. Recently, St. Louis County in Missouri had such an ordinance overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. According to the court’s response, the October 2000 ordinance “made it unlawful for any person to sell, rent or make available graphically violent video games to minors or to permit the free play of graphically violent video games by minors without a parent or guardian’s consent.” The appellants, as well as First Amendment proponents, successfully argued that the ordinance violated a person’s right to free speech.

Washington state legislators passed a similar ban last year which is expected to be presented by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. An injunction on enforcing the ban was put in place until that time. Lawmakers and legal analysts alike are awaiting the court’s decision, as it’s believed it will influence any possible national ban on video game sales to children.

Parents of young gamers as well as adult gamers have an obligation to educate the public and protect the video game industry against half-truths, misinformation and, downright lies. Video game sellers should not sell games rated M (mature) to patrons under 17 years of age. That’s simple. How about we take that one step further. If a parent decides that his/her child can play/purchase a game rated mature, why not allow that parent to have a permission card on file at their local video game outlet. Require the parent to come in, sign an affidavit, affirming their consent for their children to purchase “M” rated games. If that sounds a bit permissive, consider the fact that a parent can take their child to any “R” rated movie. Movies that depict characters having sex with prostitutes, car-jacking soccer moms, attacking elderly persons, and killing police officers.

… in the end, is the parents who will decide what the children play. If you don’t want your 10-year old to “engage in acts of Video Game violence, then GET INVOLVED in the purchase of video games.

Your kids don’t get $50 from their piggy bank, the main source is YOU, the parent. Although the stores are charged with the responsibility to card consumers when buying a video game, it is also the parent’s responsibility to control what their kid has bought. Let’s stop blaming our own disregard for the care for our kids on someone else and start taking action. Educate yourself on the video games and the video game industry and get involved.

For more information on how to get involved visit Xbox Solution or visit Xbox Solution’s Kid Corner forum .

Written By: Derrick Harris
Special thanks to Alpha for his help in this article.

Sources:

Filed under: Editorials

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