Brody's Journal... LA Times Reporter Gerrick Kennedy: Should Violent Video Games Be Regulated By State Or By Parents?

By Gerrick D. Kennedy (Los Angeles, California) Apr 26 | California and six other states are hoping to prohibit the sale to minors of violent video games that show images of humans being maimed, killed or sexually assaulted  -- and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether the states will be able to regulate the sale. California's law, like the others, has been blocked previously on the grounds of free-speech challenges argued by the video game industry. 

But the Supreme Court said it would hear California's appeal and consider reviving the laws. 

The other states that have enacted similar laws are Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Washington. 

A few weeks ago "Rapelay,"  a video game depicting rape, went viral despite harsh criticism and bans. The game allows players to assault and rape women and underage girls on a train, impregnate them and try to convince them to get abortions. Once the video game sparked outrage -- it was a constant discussion on CNN -- it was pulled off of shelves, but people were able to download it from the Internet.  

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday issued a statement after the Supreme Court announced its decision:

"We have a responsibility to our kids and our communities to protect against the effects of games that depict ultra-violent actions, just as we already do with movies. I am pleased the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to take up this issue, and I look forward to a decision upholding this important law that gives parents more tools to protect their children, including the opportunity to determine what video games are appropriate."

California's ban, which was signed into law by Schwarzenegger in 2005, would impose a civil fine on retailers who sell or rent video games to minors that are labeled as violent. But before it could go into effect, the Entertainment Software Assn. and the Video Software Dealers Assn. went to court and a federal judge blocked the law from being enforced.
The justices will hear the case in the fall. Should states step in to regulate the sale of "violent" video games to minors, or is that something that should be regulated by parents?