Video Game Bill Fails

May 5, 2005 By Ian Bell

A Bill designed to ban sale of violent video games to kids under 17 years of age fails in committee.

“A bill that sought to ban the sale of especially violent video games to children under 17 years old failed to clear committee Tuesday, the second year an attempt to restrict youth access to the popular pastime has been defeated in the Legislature.

The bill, AB450 by Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, would have assessed a $1,000 fine each time a merchant was found to have sold or rented a video game depicting savage violence against humans to a child 16 years old or younger. It also would have required a label touting the ban be affixed to the games.

The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media voted 5-4 in favor of the bill, with an abstention by Assemblyman Jerome Horton, D-Inglewood (Los Angeles County), but six votes are needed. Passage remains possible this week if Horton can be persuaded to vote in favor of the bill. ”

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fungku at 11:19pm 5th May 2005 I think this is just like music. As a good parent you have to take responsibility and monitor what your kids are doing. I wouldnt let my kid buy a game I thought was inappropriate. If he somehow did, I'm going to know about it because I stay involved in my kids life. People that want this passed want big government to babysit. I dont want big government to step in to this role.
James at 10:22am 5th May 2005 Not sure what I think about this. Some of those games can be pretty bad and I would not want my kid playing them. But as a good parent, I know what games he has and I am usually the one buying them anyways. So I have the control in the end.