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Missouri Republican Wants Violent Video Game Tax
New submitter sHr0oMaN writes with news that Diane Franklin, a Republican member of Missouri's state House of Representatives, has proposed a sales tax on violent video games. The proposal, HB0157I, is one of many responses to the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The proceeds from the tax would go toward mental health programs and law enforcement in the hopes that future shootings can be prevented. The total amount taxed would be small — 1% — and would be applied to video games rated Teen, Mature, or Adult-only by the ESRB. Of course, many games earn the "Teen" rating without having violence in them, like Guitar Hero. The Entertainment Software Association responded to Rep. Franklin's bill with a statement: "Taxing First Amendment protected speech based on its content is not only wrong, but will end up costing Missouri taxpayers."
A Republican wants a tax? Someone is about to receive a pair of "Norquist galoshes".
Table-ized A.I.
Right. Because nothing says Republican idea of small government more than taxing video games does. Thanks, dude.
Sample Game Tax List:
$0.03 per ounce of blood visible
Spleen visible: $1
Spleen split/burst: $3
Brain visible: $2.50
Brain split/burst: $5
Heart visible: $2
Heart split/burst: $4
Intestine visible: $1.75
Intestine split/burst: $3.75
Choking/strangulation using intestine: $8
Choking/strangulation using victim's own intestine: $12
Flying eyeball: $2 per ball
Decapitation: $3 per head
Robot death: $0.30
Table-ized A.I.
Ah yes.... there's little Timmy (the Dickens one, not the Slashdot one), saving to buy "Beserkers: The game with real bloodspurt(tm) certified by the NRA for massacre training, endorsed by Ted Nugent" and he's at the GameStart store and he's 14 cents short because of the tax.
DAMN YOU, Republicans! How dare you deny a child a game because of your endless taxes! It's like how in Florida you've run the cost of a carry permit up to ~$150 so people who live in poor, crime-ridden neighborhoods can't afford them.
Mitt Romney, this is all your fault. Grrrr.
Maybe the money from the tax should go towards buying guns for good guys so they can stop the bad guys?
You can have your tax on violent video games. But, only if I can get a tax on Missouri Republicans.
Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once
Posting garbage on the internet would be a State make-work program to prevent school shootings, deviant sex, unemployment, and to generally keep people out of trouble[1] as well.
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[1] - Splitting infinitives would also be part of the job.