Posted on 10/07/2005 5:38:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ignored strong lobbying from software makers and signed legislation Friday that bans the sale of violent video games to children.
Passed by the California legislature last month, the measure follows heated national debate after game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. pulled its best-selling game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" from retailers this summer because of hidden sex scenes.
"I am a parent myself and I think this is extremely important that we know what our kids watch or what kind of games that they play," Schwarzenegger told reporters.
"I am a big believer in those video games. I mean they're terrific, a lot of them are manufactured in California and they're doing a great job," he said at a signing ceremony.
"We just want to make sure it doesn't go into the wrong hands or children under the age of 10 start playing those things because it does have an impact on our children."
The star of many violent movies during his acting days, Republican Schwarzenegger had not previously indicated his position on the issue. Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee, the bill's author, said he was surprised the governor signed his bill.
The measure bars the sale and rental to minors of games that show serious injury that is determined to be especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. Violators are subject to a $1,000 fine.
Several other states, including Illinois and Michigan, have similar laws, prompting legal fights with the $10 billion video game industry. Courts have ruled against bans in Washington state as well as Indianapolis and St. Louis County in Missouri.
The California law says exposing youths to video violence could result in psychological harm.
"Exposing minors to depictions of violence in video games, including sexual and heinous violence, makes those minors 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," it said.
"We just want to make sure it doesn't go into the wrong hands or children under the age of 10 start playing those things because it does have an impact on our children."
The star of many violent movies during his acting days, Republican Schwarzenegger had not previously indicated his position on the issue. Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee, the bill's author, said he was surprised the governor signed his bill.
----
If Leland Yee is shocked,, lolol
So am I. If you're over 10, it's OK to blow the crap out of stuff in a video game. ;-)
Thanks for perpetuating the nanny state, (R)nold.
Ok, so does that mean only kids under 10 can't buy them? Or under 18? Big difference. Does anybody else see the hypocrisy in banning them too, or is it just me?
You ever actually seen those games?
Seen 'em, played 'em. The only one that ever really bothered me at first was Aliens vs. Predator 2. Being an alien was brutal...especially when you tore apart people until they were quivering gobs of bloody flesh-bits.
Kind of a stress-reliever after a while.
I know what you mean.
Ever try to get up to 6 wanted stars on GTA:vice city without using cheat codes? It's dang near impossible!
They'd have more success in reducing crime if they just banned rap music...for everyone.
benjaminjjones wrote:
They'd have more success in reducing crime if they just banned rap music...for everyone.
--I was just thinking about a ban on cable television violence. It's on tv every few minutes, some sort of show where the woman is beaten or guys are murdering each other.
Arnold is shaking the wrong tree. I don't have cable tv i think it's a rip off for what you get.
Violent video games have virtually no effect on a kids behavior.
Kind of like "Enders Game" by Orson Scott Card.
Good point about those Ahhnold movies. Some of those were quite violent and depicted actual people rather than animated characters.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.