DC Could Ban 'Mature' Video Game Sales to Minors

DeathPooky writes "As a part of an effort to continue a reduction in crime in the nation's former murder capital, DC leaders are trying to pass a law banning the sale of mature video games to minors - along with harsh penalties to enforce the law. According to the article, 'A store that violates the law could lose its business license and face a fine of as much as $10,000.' This law mimics other such bans proposed in Virginia and Maryland. I can already feel the chilling effects from here."

Comments

Not enforceable and here's why.

[Antony-Kyre]

The Internet is a medium of anonymity. There's no easy way to prevent the sale of mature video games to minors without a huge invasion of privacy, another obstacle.

And who is defining what is mature content?

Re:Not enforceable and here's why.

[Chris_Jefferson]

Out of interest, does that mean you would also want minors to be able to wander into shops and buy hard-core porn, and 18-rated horror films (18 being one of the highest ratings over here in the UK, translate as necessary to your country)?

I'm surprised in this thread so many people seem to think it's fine for minors to buy and watch any film.. or do think that "no game is as bad as most films", which is the problem I used to have every day with parents buying their children whatever game they like when they wouldn't even consider letting them buy 18 rated movies?

Re:Not enforceable and here's why.

[Anonymous Coward]

If it's illegal to buy it, I guess we'll have to just download the games for free.

Now SHAME on you. You know that once something is declared illegal, nobody circumvents the law. Why else would the government pass them, huh?

For instance, when DC banned handguns, all handgun crime disappeared. Rifles and shotguns had been prohibited earlier, so now there are no murders from the use of a gun at all in DC.

Unfortunately, there still are too many videogames out there and somehow they can be used to kill (myself, I've only gotten an occasional papercut from them, but then I'm certainly not a qualified game killer either. And I've never killed anyone with my Glock 21 either, but I digress). Videogames, butterknifes, sporks, hot-dog skewers and numerous other dangerous killer objects still remain and must be made illegal so the residents of DC can be safe again.

Must suck to be so helpless...

Still better than the Aussie system!

[m00j]

Here in Australia the office of film and literature does games as well. Unfortunately they can't get it out of their heads that games are played by people other than kids.

We have a rating system of:
C - Children
G - General Exhibition
PG - Parental Guidance
M - Mature Audiences Recommended
MA - Mature Audiences Only (15+ only)
AV - Adult Violence (mainly used for TV)
R - 18+ only
X = 18+, pr0n

Only problem is there is no R rating (or AV or X for that matter) for games. This means games like Manhunt and Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude get banned from Australia! Heck, even GTA3 was banned until they removed the ability to pick up hookers and made it harder to run people over.

You might think this would not affect you elsewhere in the world, but really the makers want to reach a broad audience, so a lot of games will already be toned down in the rest of the world just so they can get it into the more stringent parts of the world.

the difference between this and movies is what?

[night_flyer]

sorry, no chilling effect to be seen, there is a rating system for a reason.