Supreme Court rules videogame ban unconstitutional (US)

V

Verd1234

Look, Ma! Two Heads!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/27/scotus.video.games/index.html

Good news for gamers...

The Supreme Court has struck down a California law that would have banned selling "violent" video games to children, a case balancing free speech rights with consumer protection.
The 7-2 ruling Monday is a victory for video game makers and sellers, who said the ban -- which had yet to go into effect -- would extend too far. They say the existing nationwide, industry-imposed, voluntary rating system is an adequate screen for parents to judge the appropriateness of computer game content.
The state says it has a legal obligation to protect children from graphic interactive images when the industry has failed to do so.
"As a means of assisting concerned parents it (the law) is seriously overinclusive because it abridges the First Amendment rights of young people whose parents (and aunts and uncles) think violent video games are a harmless pastime," wrote Justice Antonin Scalia for the majority.
In dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer framed the law's intent differently.

"The First Amendment does not disable government from helping parents make such a choice here -- a choice not to have their children buy extremely violent, interactive games," he wrote.
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No one's forcing the parents to buy the games, I think they already are making a choice and don't really need help. :?

When is the government going to stop trying to raise our kids for us?
 
Luckily the (majority of the) Supreme Court saw reason here. If the person's legal guardians don't have a problem with their children buying a certain video game, it is not the government's place to then deny the person the right to purchase the product.
 
I don't see how this is good news for gamers, unless you're twelve.

Do you enjoy firing up your favorite shooter, only to be greeted by a bunch of screeching children who have no business playing the fucking game in the first place?
 
so likr they say...

and Not a single fuck was given that day, why people give importance to thsi sort of stupdi crap? Kids can now buy their M, T rated games before time, that is a super victory for everything, YAY!!!
 
I don't see how this is good news for gamers, unless you're twelve.
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Well, a big chunk of gaming industry profits comes from the US. So, if the Court had ruled this legislation constitutional, other states may have implemented it thereby pressuring the industry to either tone down violence or work on genres that aren't violent.

This way, we can still get all the same games as before...
 
Courier said:
No one's forcing the parents to buy the games, I think they already are making a choice and don't really need help. :?
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It was a law banning the sale of "violent" videogames to children, not to adults with children.

Phil the Nuka-Cola Dude said:
Do you enjoy firing up your favorite shooter, only to be greeted by a bunch of screeching children who have no business playing the fucking game in the first place?
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It's not really bad news either but what's important is that a law restricting videogames more harshly than other media was ruled unconstitutional. I appreciated and was amused by the majority opinion citing children's books/stories, specifically the Grimm Fairy Tales, as being equally if not more violent.

Phil the Nuka-Cola Dude said:
Do you enjoy firing up your favorite shooter, only to be greeted by a bunch of screeching children who have no business playing the fucking game in the first place?
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I've played with kids who were fine and even most who weren't were primarily a problem because some dickweed gave them a mic.
 
UncannyGarlic said:
It was a law banning the sale of "violent" videogames to children, not to adults with children.
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That's already illegal, minors can't buy 'M' rated games without someone over the age of 18 with them.
 
As far as I understood it wasn't ilegal, it was mostly a policy but it wasn't enforced or punished in case of a vilation. so they wanted to put one on peopel that broke it.
 
I don't know, the first game I played in my Play Station 1 (the first console I ever owned and not just rented) was Resident Evil 1, I don't rememebr how old I was, but this kind of law are so easily bypassed, the PArents or an older sibiling just buys it, and the kid plays.
 
Walpknut said:
As far as I understood it wasn't ilegal, it was mostly a policy but it wasn't enforced or punished in case of a vilation. so they wanted to put one on peopel that broke it.
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Most stores won't sell an 'M' rated game to you if you look too young, although some older teens might be able to pass. A twelve year old can't walk to a store alone and buy an 'M' rated game, that's just stupid if anyone thinks they can.
 
Courier said:
Walpknut said:
As far as I understood it wasn't ilegal, it was mostly a policy but it wasn't enforced or punished in case of a vilation. so they wanted to put one on peopel that broke it.
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Most stores won't sell an 'M' rated game to you if you look too young, although some older teens might be able to pass. A twelve year old can't walk to a store alone and buy an 'M' rated game, that's just stupid if anyone thinks they can.
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This is true but it is a policy that the industry imposes on itself...not by law
 
Verd1234 said:
This is true but it is a policy that the industry imposes on itself...not by law
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Then what's the problem if the industry is already doing it themselves? That's like if cigarette companies started putting warnings about cancer and all on the package without being asked.
 
The problem is that not all game shops follow on the policy. Selling cigarrettes and alcohol to minors is ilegal, not just a policy of the companies.
 
Walpknut said:
The problem is that not all game shops follow on the policy. Selling cigarrettes and alcohol to minors is ilegal, not just a policy of the companies.
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How the hell's a little kid going to get to a store with enough money to buy a video game all by themselves? If a kid does that without the parents being aware, I think the video game might not be the biggest problem that that kid's having.
 
If a kid saves enough money from what their parent give them, and goes buy it, I don't see any major problem. When I was like 13 I got my GBA by saving money for a year.
 
Walpknut said:
If a kid saves enough money from what their parent give them, and goes buy it, I don't see any major problem. When I was like 13 I got my GBA by saving money for a year.
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How do they get to the store though without their parents realizing they're gone?
 
They take the bus just after school under the pretesne they are with their friends? it's not that hard, most parents nowadays are at the house less than their kids.
 
Phil the Nuka-Cola Dude said:
I don't see how this is good news for gamers, unless you're twelve.

Do you enjoy firing up your favorite shooter, only to be greeted by a bunch of screeching children who have no business playing the fucking game in the first place?
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It's good in the idea that the medium doesn't have to get to the point of monitoring sales like pornography does. It's more political than anything, really. I'd rather have parents taking that responsibility than putting further strain on our government.
 
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