The Supreme Court will decide whether a California law that bans the sale or rental of violent videogames to minors will stand. The law was passed in 2005, but has never been enforced due to the questioning of its constitutionality. Nearly a dozen states have expressed support for the CA law or have tried to pass similar legislation.
Those who support the law say that violent video games have been shown to cause violent thoughts and agression in children. Suporters say that parents should be able to decide if their children should be exposed to such games, not game makers or retailers. They believe that making it illegal to sell or rent the games to minors will help keep games out of the hands of children.
Opponents of the law point out that games already have ratings on them which allow parents to make decisions about games. They say that the rating system is highly recognized and well enforced, making this law unnecessary.
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) said," Videogames are fully protected speech ...and that the government can't regulate speech content if there are reasonably effective private rating systems and parental control tools that don't interfere with our First Amendment rights." They have urged the Supreme Court to protect the free speech rights of videogame creators and users.
This case is being touted as "the single most iomportant moment for games, and the pivotal issue for gamers, in the sectors history." Your thoughts?
i think if your a game freak where all day you sit and play the games all day then maybe but if you play not all day i think you will be good..............
ReplyDeleteThats dumb that they are always trying to always limit video games and junk and I agree that parents should regulate what their kids play because there are ratings on them. If they don't want kids exposed to bad games don't buy any rate M games.
ReplyDeletePeople can do what they want, who cares.. If someone wants to play video games all day and all that then let them, if they dont still who cares..
ReplyDeletejosh that is a weird comment it doesn't make sense... but i would have to agree with taylor the parents are buying these games for these kids so whose fault is it there. pretty much this is a very dumb thing but im not gonna lie kids can be pretty persuasive to parents in getting these violent games.
ReplyDeletei think that if people have no life and just want to play video games all day then they can do whatever they please.. see where it gets them in life who knows maybe they'll all become rich.. or they could go broke from not doing anything, but who cares let them do what they want.
ReplyDeleteI think it should be left up to the parents whether they want their children playing violent games or not. California always has such regulative laws they are trying to pass.
ReplyDeleteThe parents are the sole controllers of their children. They should decide whether or not their children should play violent games. I think that violent games can lead to aggressive behavior, but that is up to the parents. Parents decide how to raise their children, that includes choosing what games they can or cant not play. Games can defintely have material not appropriate for children, it should be limited! There is no need for young children to be exposed to make believe violence.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there should be a law concerning this issue on violent video games. If parents don't want their children to be exposed to such games, don't stinkin buy them! They can clearly see the rating of the game and why it is rated that way. It's becoming a much bigger deal that it should be. And where is this "proof" that these games trigger violent behavior and thoughts in children? Ultimately I feel it comes down to the decisions of the parents and how they regulate what their kid plays.
ReplyDeleteI think a business can sell or rent those games if they want to.. the parents are the ones who should be controlling what their kids are exposed to. The business is just trying to make money. If the kid wants to play the video game he is gonna find a way to play it anyways so might as well just deal withit. The parents are the ones who should stop it by parenting their child.
ReplyDeleteits a dumb law. period. i mean everyone is going to have to learn right from wrong some how and a perent should already be regulating there childs games based on there ratings. and also i have never felt like i need to go steal a car and run over 10 people after playing grand theft auto or never wanted to go race down the road after playing need for speed i mean i think people say videogames do way more to the brain than they actualy do
ReplyDeleteI think if you have parental consent then it shouldn't matter. And after awhile it won't really matter, because kids have been able to see so much violence over the internet and on tv.
ReplyDeleteThe parents have the right to let their kids play these games if they want. Yes, I think it can lead to aggressive and violent behavior. The parents decide how to raise their kids, and if they think it's okay to play these games, then it's their fault. If they don't agree with their behavior, then start getting involved in your kids life and actually see what you're letting them do or what you buy them.
ReplyDeleteParents can decide whether they let their children play the games or not. As stated in the story there is already ratings on the outside of the game. And just because games cause some kids to be more violent doesn't mean all kids are that way. Maybe parents should learn how to parent their kids differently if them being violent is an issue. I think video games should be able to stay the way they are and laws shouldn't need to be stricter. Plus even if you have to be a certain age if the kid asks their parents, the parents can just buy it for them. That's how it goes now anyway. If a minor buys a movie, CD, or whatever... if their not old enough and the parent is with, the parent just has to okay it and tada the child can have it. So why bother making something stricter when people will most likely be able to get around it anyway. Heather makes a good point about internet too. They have violent games you can play on there and they don't know how old you are you can easily lie about your age and no one would know.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if parents approve of their under-aged children playing violent videogames then they could take the time to rent the games for their children. Since there are laws stating that a minor cannot purchase a mature videogame they shouldn't be able to rent them either.
ReplyDeleteIt's a parents decision what they want their kids to be exposed to or not. The law should not be able to take that away. It's not the governments problem whether a parent wants their children exposed to violent video games or not. I just think it's dumb. I think that kids are going to get around it anyways so what does it matter. It's just like selling alcohol and drugs, minors will find a way if they want it. So there governnment.
ReplyDeleteWow this is dumb. I don't see why it would not be up to the parents. Their the ones that buy the games for the children. I so agree with megan about they will find ways around it. If they really want it they will get it. Let the parents be parents...
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