NY Governor to Target Violent Video Games

NoMoreGuns writes to tell us that Governor Eliot Spitzer is planning to target violent movies and video games in a new bill. "Spitzer said he wants to restrict access to these videos and games by children, similar to motion picture regulations which prohibit youths under 17 from being admitted to R-rated movies without a parent or adult guardian. Under Spitzer's proposal, retailers who sell violent or degrading videos or video games to children contrary to the rating would be sanctioned."

Here we go again.

[MrShaggy]

Interesting that the supreme court(?) has just struck down this very same bill, in Louisiana. The Judge berated the state for trying to undermine the constitution, as well as not seeing what has happened to very similar bills in other states. They also made the state pay out the 94,000$ in lawyer fees that the gaming industry had to pay in order to fight this.

Apparently there was a quote from the group responsible for the bill saying that they would try again. Millions of dollars wasted in 'thinking of the children', when most stores do that anyway.

Re:Bad headline!

[AndersOSU]

There are legal restrictions preventing sale of porn to minors, but no legal restrictions for violence. If your blockbuster won't let twelve year olds rent "Death-Death-Death-And-Blood 7" it is due to store (or corporate) policy, not due to regulation.

Re:There are NO regulations on movies in the USA

[SighKoPath]

In New York, it is illegal for movie theaters to admit children under 17 to R-rated films without a parent present (I know, I grew up there, and every time I'm there, I still get ID'd for R-rated films). Spitzer simply wants to extend this regulation to the retail sale of BOTH video games and movies. Also, the article mentions that it is according to the RATINGS of the media.

I know it's too much to expect those here on /. to RTFA, but all of the above is mentioned in TFA, though in far fewer words.

Re:Let me see if I've got this...

[oneiron]

I know for a fact that in Arizona selling an M rated game to a minor is illegal and actually punishable by some law, I had to show my driver's license to buy Counter Strike.

So, you don't think it could just be a store policy that prompted them to ask for your driver's license? Not all store policies are based on laws, you know. You really should be a bit more sure before you use a phrase like, "I know for a fact..."

Re:Bad headline!

[SEE]

There are no laws enforcing the movie ratings system. It is perfectly legal to allow a six-year-old to rent or buy a film rated R or NC-17. It is merely social custom and private policies of vendors which restrict such activities.

Laws prohibiting the sale of indecent materials to minors do exist, but they exist independent of the ratings system, and already fully apply to video games.

Re:There are NO regulations on movies in the USA

[chaidawg]

To everyone who questioned the "there is no law" statement, it is correct. There is no law in the US prohibiting access of minors to the movies. It is industry regulation by the MPAA that they enforce by threatening to pull movies from theaters that violate the policy. The MPAA created these regulations precisely so Congress would not legislate on the matter.

Re:Because it gets them votes.

[Khaed]

The majority of voters in America are seniors who still hate comic books for "destroying America's youth."

Don't tell them now, but comic books no longer carry those stupid "Comics Code Authority" labels advertising their safe-for-children content. Now they have ratings, just like everything else.

Gasp, shock, horror.

Eliot Spitzer not an ass

[prakslash]

First of all, Spitzer is not an ass.

Like many slashdotters, I have an extremely low view of politcians but Spitzer is a good man.

When he was in New York District Attorney's office, he single-handedly ended the Gambino crime family. When he became New York's Attorney General, he showed a great zeal in going after biggest Wall Street firms like Goldman Scahs, JP Morgan that were inflating stock prices and giving biased investment advice to customers. He did it inspite of a great deal of pressure. Then, he went after music companies practising "payola" schemes to get their songs played on radio. He didnt even spare huge insurance companies like AIG and chip manufacturers practicing price-fixing and other fraud.

Even in the current case, he is NOT against violent video games. He is just against the SALE of mature-rated video games to minors. This is no different than preventing minors from purchasing tickets to R-rated movies

Re:Bad headline!

[innocent_white_lamb]

It depends where you are. Every Canadian province has laws regarding film and video classification, with penalties for non-compliance (including exhibition, sale or rental of "unclassified" materials.)

Re:Election time already?

[__aaleib9616]

Too late, the ever popular Jack Thompson was on a talk show not 4 hours after the fact, and then Dr. Phil implied that videogames pushed the gunman over the edge a little while later.

Re:Election time already?

[operagost]

Well, Postal used to have a suicide button that did exactly that.