NY Bill to Prohibit Sales of Racist Games to Minors

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New York assemblyman, Keith L.T. Wright, submitted a new legislative proposal which aims to prohibit the sale of video games containing negative racial stereotypes and/or actions toward a specific group of persons to minors.

 

The measure was proposed in the New York Assembly and referred to the Assembly's Consumer Protection and Affairs Committee.

 

If passed, the bill would prevent children under the age of 18 from buying video games with a rating that "reflects content of various degrees of profanity, racist stereotypes, or derogatory language, and/or actions toward a specific group of persons."

 

The proposed bill would also require retailers or rental outlets to ask for identification from customers attempting to buy or rent video games with a "mature" or "violent" rating. A bill similar in this aspect that would have imposed fines on violators became law in California and was later ruled unconstitutional in 2007 -- opening the door for the Entertainment Software Association to ultimately collect $280,000 in legal fees from the state.

 

According to the measure, "Video games containing purely adult images, situations, and scenarios are far too readily available to children who often purchase these games without any resistance from sellers. ... The bill would take a step towards preventing our children from being influenced by the glamorization of violence portrayed in such video games."

 

(via Gamasutra)

 

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01/14/2009 by NYC_GI

well, there goes 280,000 dollars. Not counting all the time wasted for the bill to be voted on and drafted etc. Hey why stop here, lets make sure no racist television shows can be viewed by anyone under 18 too, also no movies with racist stereotypes can be sold to anyone under 18 ( there goes the rush hour series kiddies! ). When will these people get a clue and realize people aren't stupid unless you constantly treat them like they are with things such as this.

ESRB exists for a reason
Contains the following: Gratuitous Violence, Racial Slurs
Mom: "Sorry Billy, you aren't old enough for this"
Billy: "awwwwww"

or do what my mom did

Mom: "I'll buy this for you but you know that this is all fake right? This is make believe!"
Me: "Yes, Yes, I will try my hardest not to kill people after playing it"

Its when parents ignore their children and let them become so enveloped in false realities because they are not motivated in the real world enough that problems occur. Get involved with the child's life once in a while and he won't be living and breathing stuff he just sees in games.

/end rant

01/14/2009 by SWoskowiak :: 3 years ago

I agree, it seems the state government would rather micromanage every detail of people’s lives (at our expense) rather than encourage self accountability and good parenting.

01/22/2009 by waterlily :: 3 years ago