The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday about federal court's decision to throw out California's ban on violent games. Governor Schwarzenegger of California signed this law prohibiting the sales of violent video games to minors (under the age of 18) in 2005. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco declared it unconstitutional last year. Federal court stated that such law violated minors' constitutional rights in the First and Fourth Amendment.
Supporters for the law stated that such a law will protect minors from buying such violent titles while games and free speech advocates think that the ban could lead to strict federal regulation on the content of games and other media.
However, the gaming industry is actually doing a much better job at preventing minors from buying entertainment not intended for their age group than the music and film industries.
Post By: Christina Cheng
It would seem that the video gaming industry requires more regulation that the video/TV and music industries. Rather than simply observing or absorbing "inappropriate" concepts through a song or TV show, playing an M-rated video game puts the minor in the actual role of the violent offender. I'm not sure why this would even make it to the Supreme Court, or why anyone would have a problem with it.
ReplyDeleteThis also relates to the legitimacy discussion we had in class, in that this type of government could be rejected as illegitimate. The Supreme Court acts as a legislative "shadow" in this instance, working behind the scenes but still having an influence on public policy. They are representing the broader interest, but if they're just representatives then who really is in charge?
ReplyDeleteEven though playing a violent video game definitely would not influence good behavior, I don't think it's any different from watching a violent movie. Those who choose to play these video games should know the difference between what is right and what is wrong, and when they choose to commit crimes they are doing something wrong for the same reason that any other person would commit a crime. I don't believe that violent video games need extra regulation because playing a violent game would more than likely not make someone commit a crime anymore than watching a violent movie or witnessing violent action.
ReplyDeleteKilee Imlay