The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned a California law that would have fined retailers for selling violent video games to minors, and in the process said video games have the same protections under the First Amendment as books, movies and other forms of entertainment.
[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]In a 7-2 ruling, the court said that California’s law was “overly inclusive” because it would have restricted the ability of children whose parents don’t object to violent video games right along with those children whose parents do.
The court also waved off controversial claims that violent video games cause children to act aggressively, a central argument of the California state senator who sponsored the legislation, himself a child psychologist.
It’s the latest defeat for politicians seeking to restrict minors’ access to video games, but it’s the first to go all the way to the Supreme Court. Similar laws in other states have been overturned in lower federal circuit courts.
I am not sure that I understand the law that was struck down. If the game sales were totally banned, then I would agree with the court. If however, the law said that they couldn’t sell a game with the equivalent of an R rating to a minor, then I disagree. R rated movies, as an example, prohibit under 17 from seeing it. Why shouldn’t game sales be subjected to the same rules?
Rated R movies do not prohibit people under 17 from viewing them. Movie ratings are voluntary. Theaters choose to enforce them but if they sell a ticket to a 14 year old, they are not breaking any laws. My local theaters allow adults to buy tickets for minors to see rated R movies before 6:00 p.m. and require ID for entry afterwards. Go during the day and parents often have their toddlers and other young children with them.
Game ratings are also an optional system in the United States. There were no laws requiring their enforcement until this one. I support the court’s decision though. I am also a parent. I know every game that my children own or play. I made sure that the ratings were followed in my house. It isn’t hard to do. Just be involved with your children and watch what they do. I don’t even let my ten year old nephew play games not rated for him at my house, even though his parents do.