GA Proposes Restricting Game Sales to Minors

HarryCaul writes "The Georgia Legislature has a bill proposing the restriction of sales of video games to minors. This bill is independent of the voluntary ratings in that it would prohibit the sale of "especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" games to children. Another bill from the same legislator would take the more reasonable step of requiring stores to post a sign explaining the video game rating system. From the article: "The video game proposal is one of several like it being introduced across the country. Lawmakers in North Carolina, Illinois and Michigan are among those considering similar measures."

Comments

they have this in washington

[biryokumaru]

i dont know why this is really news, i mean, they've had this in washington state fer a while now, and im shur a lot of other states too.

Re:they have this in washington

[Leroy_Brown242]

Read up, kid.

Good thing

[yotto]

I won't say "You can mod me down if you want, but..." because I hate it when people say that.

But...

I think this is a Good Thing(tm). They've been doing it with movies for ever and I don't remember it destroying my civil liberties when I was a child.

Re:Pros/Cons

[SiliconJesus]

The only way to fix the latter is to have parents be aware of the rating system on games. I'm not sure what else the gaming industry can do other than having the ratings there, and possibly forcing all rental / sales places to display the code and have them talk to parents about the game's details for any game rated "Teen" or above so the parents know what they're getting into. Sadly, most of the people selling games (especially at places like Wal*Mart or the likes) don't have a clue when it comes to games.

I'm all for this. Honestly, you don't have any rights as a minor in the US anyway, why not add this to the pile.

Can't buy videogames...

[LordEd]

...but they can buy a shotgun or rifle without ID?

Georgia Firearm Laws

* No licensing or registration requirements related to purchase or possession of any firearms.

* No waiting period for purchase of handguns, shotguns, or rifles.

* There are no age restrictions related to possession of rifles or shotguns.

(yes, i know there are responsible youth gun owners, but which requires more responsibility... guns or video games?)

Re:Can't buy videogames...

[clausiam]

While I mostly agree with the point you're trying to make you did selectively post just some of the statements. You "forgot" this one:

It is a felony for a person to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly sell or provide a handgun to any person less than 18 years of age. Parents and legal guardians may, however, allow possession of a handgun by a minor for such purposes as detailed above. In addition, under federal law, federally licensed firearms dealers may not sell a handgun to anyone under 21 years of age.

Re:wow

[Ra5pu7in]

No, the ratings system has never had any force of law behind it. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) was established by a software industry trade association and is voluntary. It has been presented to Congress and praised, but nothing is formalized.

Keep in mind that the parents and adults who push for these laws are seldom concerned about their own kids getting hold of these games. They are positive that won't happen. However, they think that no moral, intelligent parent would ever buy anything with violence or sex in it for their children. There are a good number of parents who don't know or care what music their children listen to, what television shows they watch, what internet sites they access, and what video games they play. There are also parents who don't view violence and sex in entertainment as a massive evil - who are involved in the decision-making and who talk to their kids about what is represented in the games. To the parents who push for these laws, any parent whose kids play such games are the same: immoral, uncaring, irresponsible parents whose poor kids must be protected. Untrue and not logical, but a law is nothing more than an inconvenience to those of us who will buy the game for our kids anyway.

Re:About time this came up in legislature

[HeavyK]

Actually i'm pretty sure i read a recent study from the FCC that showed that it was easier for minors to buy R or unrated DVDs and videos from retailers then it was for them to buy "M" rated video games.
Also many retailers have I.D. checks for "M" rated games but don't for buying an R or "unrated" rated DVD or movie.
As for saying that most kids rent the R rated movies or play the "M" rated video games only for the extreme gore, ect as opposed to those who read books. Well i'd say that's kinda discrimitory. While there are those that do, there are many kids who watch those movies for the storyline/plot/characters and play the games for the challenge/funfactor/interesting gaming aspects.