More States Pen Game Laws
Indiana & Maryland Join the Fun
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Indiana and Maryland have been added to the list of states considering a video game law that would prevent the sale of violent games or games with mature content to minors. Gamesindustry states that Maryland's General Assembly has created two bills, one which will see retailers fined up to $5,000 and up to 12 months imprisonment if they sell 'Adult-Only' titles to minors. AO titles aren't sold in any major retail chains according to their policies.
The second bill is to follow the now defunct California gaming bill. This bill is sponsored by Democratic senator Justin Ross and claims that minors exposed to violent video games are "more likely to experience feelings of aggression, to experience a reduction of activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, and to exhibit violent antisocial or aggressive behavior. Even minors who do not commit acts of violence suffer psychological harm from prolonged exposure to violent videogames," the bill reads.
Indiana Senator Dennis Kruse has also drafted his own bill that would fine retailers for selling inappropriate game to minors, and Senator Vi Simpson has also decided to draft his own bill.
"Right now, kids can walk into just about any store and get their hands on a video game in which they can shoot police officers, use drugs, steal cars, rape women or even assassinate a president. That's frightening to say the least," Simpson said.
Does anyone else feel that this is getting out of hand? They are spouting things that haven't even been proved as fact. Its ironic that they are drafting these bills in hope for votes, but if parents actually paid attention to their children's gaming habits instead of band-wagoning, the laws wouldn't be needed at all.
Source: Gamesindustry Article
The second bill is to follow the now defunct California gaming bill. This bill is sponsored by Democratic senator Justin Ross and claims that minors exposed to violent video games are "more likely to experience feelings of aggression, to experience a reduction of activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, and to exhibit violent antisocial or aggressive behavior. Even minors who do not commit acts of violence suffer psychological harm from prolonged exposure to violent videogames," the bill reads.
Indiana Senator Dennis Kruse has also drafted his own bill that would fine retailers for selling inappropriate game to minors, and Senator Vi Simpson has also decided to draft his own bill.
"Right now, kids can walk into just about any store and get their hands on a video game in which they can shoot police officers, use drugs, steal cars, rape women or even assassinate a president. That's frightening to say the least," Simpson said.
Does anyone else feel that this is getting out of hand? They are spouting things that haven't even been proved as fact. Its ironic that they are drafting these bills in hope for votes, but if parents actually paid attention to their children's gaming habits instead of band-wagoning, the laws wouldn't be needed at all.
Source: Gamesindustry Article