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Forskarr
Village Dweller
Joined: 23 May 2003
Posts: 3
Location: South Florida |
| Video Game Regulation Struck Down |
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Okay, I know this is actual news type news and doesn't specifically apply to RPGs, but it's good for you, just take it with a spoonful of sugar  The Associated Press reports that the US Supreme Court has overruled a St. Louis MO ordinance banning the sale of violent or explicit video games to people under 17 years of age. Interesting debate, I'm not neccessarily in favor of regulating games, but then again I'm not sure stuff like Postal 2 or Vice City is appropriate for my young nephew. Get the rest of the story <A href="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/86256C7E00525A1B86256D3A006AB171?OpenDocument&Headline=Federal+court+strikes+down+ordinance+regulating+access+to+video+games" target=_blank>here</A>, and let's hear what you think in the comments section! |
Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:23 am |
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DeusIrae
Guest
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Dude, that's a panel of the 8th Circuit appeals court, not the USSC. Apologies to get all nit-picky, but I'm a constitutional law geek
This is almost certainly the right call, IMO -- the original opinion in this case basically said that since games weren't speech, any regulation was valid. I haven't read the panel's opinion, but it sounds like they're saying games do indeed count as speech, so while regulations may be constitional, they need to respect the First Amendment. I doubt the Supreme Court will actually take cert on this case, so the legislature will probably frame a new version of the regulation in accordance with the decision, which feels right to me. |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:27 am |
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Forskarr
Village Dweller
Joined: 23 May 2003
Posts: 3
Location: South Florida |
Thanks, fixed it!
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Forskarr
making the world safe one orc at a time |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 2:18 am |
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d_eiland
Guest
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Selling Video games should work like the Movies. Certain titles have ratings that kids under a certain age cannot buy. I dont want my son buying some of the Video games out on the market because of the Violence, fowl language, and sexual content. |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:45 am |
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Guest
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quote:
I doubt the Supreme Court will actually take cert on this case, so the legislature will probably frame a new version of the regulation in accordance with the decision, which feels right to me.
I dunno. I kinda think the Supremes would take it on, since it most certainly is becomming hot topic for litigation (take a look at the cases cited in that opinion, not to mention the recent rash of "Doom causes Columbine" lawsuits all over the US), and undoubtably St. Louis is not the first nor the last community to try to pass such a law restricting sales to minors.
What they'll do with it is another story. I agree with you and think that the 8th Circuit took the right approach. It's about time the law recognizes the legitimacy and substance of videogames as a medium of communicatiing ideas and equate them with books and movies. The Court makes a good point -- if video games weren't a true medium of expression, why would people worry about youngsters receiving a "bad message" from them?
The full text of the 8th Circuit opinion is here:
http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/03/06/023010P.pdf |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 5:48 am |
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Jurist
Village Dweller
Joined: 07 Oct 2001
Posts: 23
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(That last post was from me. Forgot to Login.) |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 5:51 am |
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Ekim
Eagle's Shadow
Joined: 27 May 2002
Posts: 2365
Location: Montreal, Canada |
quote:
Originally posted by d_eiland
Selling Video games should work like the Movies. Certain titles have ratings that kids under a certain age cannot buy. I dont want my son buying some of the Video games out on the market because of the Violence, fowl language, and sexual content.
Games do have ratings, only the retailers don't abide by it at all as far as I know... The standards are not strong enough yet.
I personally think that there should be no banning of any game whatsoever. Games suffer from bad reputation for their relativevly involving nature, but you don't see violent films being banned, or anyone even discussing banning any particular film for their violent nature. I think that the responsibility falls back on parents who should keep an eye on what their kids are playing at a certain age.
I've never been a supporter of games like Grand Teft Auto 3, or Mafia, or any such games portraying certain illegal activities as being "cool". I never disputed the fact that these games may be fun though, and I would never even plea for such games to be banned or outlawed! I believe that, as a parent, someone should keep this game away from their kids, but I do believe that people of sound mind can play these games without being influenced to do illegal things.
It's too easy for some adults to rely on laws and legislations (or blame the lack thereof) to safeguard the younger generations who don't have all the tools yet to discern reality from fiction in a sound way, instead of accepting the responsability themselves.
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=Proud Father of a new gamer GIRL!=
=Member of The Nonflamers' Guild=
=Worshiper of the Written Word= |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:25 pm |
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Korplem
Swashbuckler
Joined: 23 Dec 2002
Posts: 853
Location: Pearl Harbor, HI |
Justice has been served 
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If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.
-The Prince of Nothing |
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Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:03 pm |
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