[Zender500]

How about the state's second argument, that the new law serves the state's compelling interest in fostering children's "moral and ethical development"? Rosenbaum rejected this out of hand.

No surprise, I guess. In 2006, words such as "moral" and "ethical" can seem like quaint relics of a bygone era.

[randog]

What do these games teach?

....the same thing you can learn at the mosque down the road.

[frogjerk]

The ratings don't mean bunk if the sales clerk doesn't enforce them.

This is the same thing that is wrong with Hollywood and the theaters. If theaters started enforcing the PG and R restrictions, Hollywood would fold.

[mysterio]

Yeah, let's ban some video games. That will solve the world's problems.

[seedman81]

Has there been a time when being a parent was not so tough? Perhaps in our Great Grandparents era, but it has never been easy. As a parent one must be on top of all of their children's activities; who they are spending time with, what types of extra curricular activities they are exposed to, where they are and what they are doing on a 24/7 basis. Easy? Not hardly, but if done with due diligence, we have a much better chance at keeping these types of threats to the maturing process out of the hands of our children, thus giving them a much better chance at entering into adulthood on the right foot.

[Wolfie]

It's a tough time to be a parent.

Yep. Might even have to wander over to the kid's room and check out what video game he's playing. Tough times indeed.

[Bigh4u2]

I've always wondered. Do kids think these games are reality or fantasy?

My grandson plays Doom,Urban Chaos,Quake and a few others.

I've asked him directly "Do you think these are real?"

And he always answers 'No grampa, it's a game'.

BTW. He's only 6.

[finnman69]

http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt/

[Sloth]

Games rated "Mature" (17 and older) and "Adults Only" crowd the shelves within your young teen's reach.

Puh-leeze. I have yet to actually SEE an A/O-rated game on a store shelf.

[Moose4]

I don't have a problem with putting an age restriction on these games (as opposed to banning them entirely). But the ultimate authority is the parent, and it's the parent who needs to know what their children are playing.

I hear that Resident Evil 4's actually a pretty good game with a decent storyline, but this Manhunt game...ugh. I'm not too surprised that Rockstar (makers of the "Grand Theft Auto" series) are behind it.

}:-)4

[Dead Corpse]

So... where are the parents in all this? Or are we not advocating personal responsibility for the actions of our children any more?

[AppyPappy]

I always find it interesting that people say that video games do not influence behavior but the military uses video games to influence behavior.

[af_vet_rr]

It's a tough time to be a parent.

I have a suggestion, don't give your kid the $50 or $60 for the videogame, don't buy any for them, unless you absolutely know what it's in the game, and move the computer or console out into the living room.

Far cheaper than getting the government involved.

[gcruse]

You know, I haven't found any adults-only games, unless that means M, around here at all. Maybe I should start screaming censorhip at Circuit City.

[GATOR NAVY]

Our kids can easily get their hands on "Manhunt," or other M-rated games such as "Resident Evil: 4,"God of War" or "Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend."

What's this "our kids", Kimosabe? Not my kids, because they don't get any game I don't see first.

[antiRepublicrat]

Our kids can easily get their hands on "Manhunt," or

Then the responsible store owners shouldn't sell to the kids, and the responsible parents shouldn't let their kids play these games. Our kids have a few game systems and many games, and we always know what they're playing.

[The peoples DJ]

I can say that I love playing video games. And it amazes me that some parents have no clue what the ratings are for. I stop a mother from buyin GTA:SA (Grand thief auto:San Andreas) for her kid. The kid had to be at least 10. I asked her if she knew what happens in the game. NO FREAKIN' CLUE. After I filled her in, she couldn't believe it. Then right out of the blue she blames "the video game makers" for the content. So I filled her in that "the video game makers" have every right to make whatever they want. YOU have the right to buy or not to buy. And YOU have to learn what the rating are. They (pointing to the clerks) are not going to tell you a damn thing. To them its money in their pockets. And then I droped the bomb. "And YOU parents who sue "the video game makers" just show that YOU have no interest in what your child it doing! Let them waste away playing video games instead of being a part of their lives."
Course the kid was pissed.

Man...I need to be in the next Congress hearing on video games.

[Gone GF]

"behead them or stab them viciously in the eyeballs."

I've drawn the line here. My son can't play a game unless you stab people GENTLY in the eyeballs.

[Larry Lucido]

Real mayhem is still illegal, last I checked. Not really worried about "video mayhem."