'Over 30' Section For Games Stores?

A New York law introduced by Representative Keith Wright seeks just that, a section for gaming stores that keeps 'violent games' under lock and key, and is accessible only to people over 30. The law is one of two poorly-thought pieces of legislation being considered by New York state's legal system. From the 1up article: "The history of the courts striking down such legislation goes just about as far back as politicians who attempt to bolster their own image by capitalizing on the public fear and hysteria over the bogeyman of video gaming. It's interesting to note that recently, courts have begun penalizing entities who purposely waste their time with attempts at passing frivolous and unconstitutional anti-videogame legislation. You'd think might deter motions like [these] somewhat, wouldn't you?" Update: 01/19 04:10 GMT by Z : As ahecht points out in the comments 1up has things wrong here. There is only one bill, and it restricts violent games from being sold to those under 18 only. Line 5 of the bill's text is the section in question.

Comments

I would understand 21, but 30?

[The Real Toad King]

"Yes, you're allowed to get drunk off your ass and purchase hardcore porno flicks, but you can't buy these video games."

Re:I would understand 21, but 30?

[XxtraLarGe]

Or: "You can be sent overseas and kill people, but you can't play Quake 4!"

Re:I would understand 21, but 30?

[Purity Of Essence]

It's not 30, it's 18. The law is to prevent access to violent games by minors and would require clerks to check the ID of anyone who looks under 30, just like a lot of liquor stores do.

Re:I would understand 21, but 30?

[ahecht]

I have read the two bills. The first, the supposed "under 30" bill, is located at:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A00547&sh=t

This bill reads:

3. Sale or rental of any video game that contains any contents listed in subdivision one of this section, shall be made only to an individual who demonstrates, through (a) a valid driver's license or non-driver`s identification and issued by the commissioner of motor vehicles, the federal government, any united states territory, commonwealth or possession, the District of Columbia, a state government within the United States or a provincial government of the dominion of Canada; or (b) a valid passport issued by the united states government or any other country; or (c) an identification card issued by the united states,indicating that the individual is at least eighteen years of age. Such identification need not be required of any individual who reasonably appears to be at least thirty years of age, provided, however, that such appearance shall not constitute a defense in any proceeding involving sale or rental of any video game, to an individual under eighteen years of age.

The second bill is located at: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02024&sh=t This bill, surprisingly, also reads:

3. Sale or rental of any video game that contains any contents listed in subdivision one of this section, shall be made only to an individual who demonstrates, through (a) a valid driver's license or non-driver`s identification and issued by the commissioner of motor vehicles, the federal government, any united states territory, commonwealth or possession, the District of Columbia, a state government within the United States or a provincial government of the dominion of Canada; or (b) a valid passport issued by the united states government or any other country; or (c) an identification card issued by the united states,indicating that the individual is at least eighteen years of age. Such identification need not be required of any individual who reasonably appears to be at least thirty years of age, provided, however, that such appearance shall not constitute a defense in any proceeding involving sale or rental of any video game, to an individual under eighteen years of age.

In fact, there aren't two separate bills putting video games under "concentrated fire", it's the same bill, but one was the prefiling of the bill on the 3rd, and the second is the actual filing on the 11th.

This is just sloppy reporting.

Featuring the new EA Title

[darth_MALL]

GTHOML2007 (Get The Hell Off My Lawn)

Re:Featuring the new EA Title

[IdahoEv]

This would be a hysterical MMORPG. You can either play a leathery old grandpa sitting on his porch swing with a shotgun or a 13-year-old street punk with staples in his ears and a spraypaint can.

Punks gain EXP for tagging houses and retirement centers.

Gramps characters get EXP for filling punks' asses with high velocity rock salt.

I like! Who wants to join the development team?

There should be a punishment

[gurps_npc]

As in, if a law is passed and rejected by the courts, all the people that voted for it should be forced to watch a one hour video on the constition of the United States, before they are allowed to vote for any other law.

Small, dirty room behind the beaded curtain

[Anonymous Coward]

Featuring adult-themed games like:

Prostate Kong
Ligament Hunter
Early Bird Buffet 2142
Need For Slow: Cataract

"Over 30"? Uhh, no.

[Anonymous Coward]

Far be it from me to criticize a kneejerk headline on Slashdot (on Slashdot? You jest!), but the bill in question would require stores to CARD people to ensure that they are over EIGHTEEN if they LOOK under the age of 30. If you're between the age of 18 and 29 inclusive, you can still buy the game, just expect to be carded when you do so. This headline has about the same accuracy as a headline that says "You must be over 45 to buy beer."

Bill actually only bans sales to minors (under 18)

[The Cheez-Czar]

The bill only bans those sales to rate M game to those under 18, and requires if someone looks under 30, that they show proper id to prove they are over 18
1UP misread the article when they summarized it from the original article

From the text of bill:

S 391-Q. SALE OF CERTAIN VIDEO GAMES TO MINORS PROHIBITED. 1. NO PERSON, PARTNERSHIP OR CORPORATION SHALL SELL OR RENT OR OFFER TO SELL OR RENT TO ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN YEARS ANY VIDEO GAME THAT HAS A MATURE OR VIOLENT RATING.... SALE OR RENTAL OF ANY VIDEO GAME ... [as described] TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DEMONSTRATES, THROUGH [some sort of ID ]... AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. SUCH IDENTIFICATION NEED NOT BE REQUIRED OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO REASONABLY APPEARS TO BE AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF AGE,...

Mod parent up, +1 insightful.

[Lane.exe]

If what we're worrying about is kiddos getting their hands on a violent game where they take up a gun and kill people, then we should be doubly worried about signing them up for the real thing.

/In life, there's no reset button or checkpoints.

Re:Mod parent up, +1 insightful.

[WobindWonderdog]

In life, there's no reset button or checkpoints. But I can't wait for the expansion pack!

Oh, now I'll need a fake

[geekoid]

ID to buy Ultra Porn. -Professor Hubert Farnsworth

Mod parent down: Bullshit.

[Snover]

21 is not the age at which the brain has completed developing. Even if it were, there is no compelling medical reason to prevent the consumption of alcohol for people under the age of 21. Originally, when the law limiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages to people 21 or older was enacted, the voting age was also 21. States tried to reduce the drinking age during the 70s and 80s, but since the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1984, a state not enforcing the minimum drinking age of 21 would be subjected to a ten percent decrease in its annual federal highway apportionment. Overview of Underage Drinking Policy in the United States.