ESRB: Utah Violent Game Bill will deprive parents of control |
Although the bill to expand the Truth in Advertising Law was passed by
the Utah House, it's being met by resistance by some groups, and even
the ESRB's president Patricia Vance urges against it.As a brief background, the bill will require retailers and movie theaters that advertise that they don't sell M-rated games games or R-rated movie tickets to underage buyers and then do so will be fined US$ 2,000.
Now the main argument here is that retailers enforce the ESRB ratings voluntarily. A vast majority, that is, 96%, comply with the ratings without any laws that say they have to do so. The point of Vance is that if this Bill is signed into law, trust with retailers might be damaged and some may even consider abandoning the ratings education program altogether.
And since the Truth in Advertising expansion bill will only prosecute retailers who actually advertise compliance with the ESRB, they won't be charged if they just stop advertising that they do. Vance made this point in an open letter to parents and leaders in Utah, which you can read in its entirety after the source link. Here are some excerpts:
According to a recent audit, Utah video game retailers enforce their store policies regarding the sale of M-rated games an impressive 94% of the time – without any laws or requirements that they do so. That level of compliance took many years to achieve, and speaks to the strong commitment of video game retailers to do the right thing.
The unraveling of this substantial progress would be a tragic consequence, depriving parents of the assurance and control they currently have with respect to deciding which games their children can purchase and play.
[The bill] would effectively penalize responsible retailers that have policies, and provide safe harbor for retailers that refuse to adopt a responsible policy in the first place. That is downright senseless.
If the goal is to make sure our children are playing age-appropriate games, there is a better way. [...] The bottom line is that parents are more than capable of utilizing tools like the ratings to make the right choices for their families.
- Jack Thompson's bill passes in Utah, Thompson comments
- Jack Thompson scores a win in Utah, House Committee approves bill
- Thompson's Games as Porn bill to be revived by Utah Legislator
Via Kotaku
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Comments
Glad I don't live in Utah
She makes good sense. It's nice that she sees both sides of the bill and knows the ultimate responsibility belongs to the parents.
this is really funny because here in Puerto Rico you see Gamestops selling M-rated games to 10 year olds... really there's no way to enforce stores to do this becuz who's gonna care? are here gonna be security guards in game stores watching what games are sold to who? no, this game will continue to be sold to everyone. hey, the selling of beer to minors is against the laws and many bills and restrictions have been passed, yet most beer stores sell to minors becuz they're not gonna lose a customer just becuz of obeying a law noone enforces... you know what would be more efficient? advertise on the news such as tv and newspapers about the violence of videogame and how parents should check what their kids play. you can bet parents will become more responsible about this...
Clerks should also be advised to not sell to anyone they suspect is under aged. No different to a bartender or someone selling cigarettes or lighting implements to an underaged person. Parents can't be everywhere all the time, that's why we have those laws about alcohol and cigarettes being sold to minors.
I'm sorry to inform you but, you might be the victim of lack of brain cells. No where does she say anything about there being two sides to the bill. There is only one side she is agreeing with, the removal of the amendment to the original bill. If they run this bill game shops might begin to sell to kids again, and remove all educational material from the store. Meaning that Parents won't have a chance.
because Puerto Rico is a protectorate state not an actual state. Puerto Rico is responsible for Puerto Rico. Just like indian reservations are responsible for indian reservations, not the Federal government. Think you need to step up your education of your government.
"Think you need to step up your education of your government. " Was that last remark really needed? I mean think about how hypocrite you sound. Can he really "step" up something that he has no control over? I'm pretty sure people from Puerto Rico can show you a thing or two. life in America is get an education and support a family, Puerto Ricans might have no other choice but to skip education and support their family. Is that such a crime ? He is just as happy as you are, and the world does not revolve around you or your OPINIONS.
With all the hypocritical, too good to do wrong, mormons running that area, it is know wonder that this is going on. Talk about weakest State in the Union. By the time these kids are adults and learn that the real world can be a violent place, these kids won't know how to react when there is an emergency, or an all out war.
Question. Have you ever actually MET, and talked to someone of the Mormon faith? Without bashing their heads in, of course. If you had, you would know that your statement is COMPLETELY false. First off, that was unnecessary. Second, it has no real basis to it, other than prejudice, which I thought most people had gotten over. Third, I happen to be Mormon myself, and I can tell you, we've been around everything you have, if not more. We've been around drunks, joined the military, watched the news, seen the effects of drugs, seen crimes happen, etc. We KNOW the world can be a violent place, so give us credit where it is due. Fourth, would you really someone to go around insulting based on your lifestyle choices? If you don't, then don't put it out my friend. Fifth, just because the Mormon faith is prevalent in Utah, it does not mean that the state government there is run by it. I do not have any statistics, and I am not claiming that it does not hold a majority in said government , but you are making an assumption, without anything solid to back it up. Last, I personally am opposed to this bill, because I have read it and taken the time to decide whether or not I would support it, and I personally think it is dumb. So, please, before you start bashing something, RESEARCH first, instead of assuming. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand here come the flames.
a good number of people in my unit are mormon, funny thing is when ***** went down while we were in iraq... they didnt stop and piss themselves... must have had god mode enabled....
My boss is mormon
You are also a typical hypocrite, seeing that you play video games. The temptations of evil have swayed you and then you get defensive if someone mentions it and make excuses. This is the an era of science that has outproven that these pathetic religions are no match for the reality of the Universe.
m-rated games games?
Good, then you do know a Mormon. Now if you'll go sit down with him/her, ask all the questions you want, and you'll find out you have been spouting off misconceptions. And since WHEN have Mormons not been allowed to play video games? I sure can't find the scripture or commandment, [/sarcasm] maybe you can point in the right direction. [/endsarcasm] And no, I'm not being defensive, I simply think it's annoying to see all of these comment threads involving Utah turning into Mormon bash-fests without a HINT of actual knowledge concerning the facts of what we believe. And as for science, I know a few Mormon scientists, and none of them have found evidence proving that God doesn't exist. You can't PROVE He exists, but you also cannot PROVE that he DOESN'T exist. Just because we, as normal people, CHOOSE believe in a higher power does not mean you have to bash us for it; we don't go around bashing your beliefs. If you're going to hate, then be an equal-opportunity hater and make sure to add ever other religion in the world to your list. There's Catholics, Jews, Methodists, Muslims, Bhuddists, Taoists, just to name a few. Oh, and for your information, I happen to know quite a few Mormons who have joined the military VOLUNTARILY. I'm good friends with a few. [/sarcasm] Now I'm gonna go polish my horns, so if you'll excuse me.... [/endsarcasm] @Shabbypenguin Thanks, and LOL at that last bit. One of my friends actually happens to be over in Iraq right now.
I'm not bashing anything. I'm just stating what I see from people I know. Also I don't think any other religious group is more right than yours, I am just saying that religion as a whole, is the problem. Most of these wars we see are do to religious beliefs and to the mention of god. God is not a he or a she. God invented the idea of he or she and god can not exist without the creation because god is the creator and the creation.
OK, thanks for clearing up what you meant. The tone of your comments led me to believe you were bashing, but now that's cleared up, sorry for assuming that you were. I do think the religious wars are dumb, I personally believe that they come about because of intolerance, and not the fact that God is mentioned. Everyone has their own right to believe what they want, the problem is, a lot of people tend to ostracize us Mormons more readily than anyone else. Anyways, I've got an appointment to get to. Later.
Here goes "Why do they bury Mormons twelve feet under? Because deep down they can be good people too." Anyways one of my best friends is Mormon and from meeting the people from his church they are all extremely nice people although my friend is a drinking smoking type mormon (my opinion of a good mormon) so not all of them are lame (yes you hear the sarcasm right?).
I do live in Utah I want to kill myself everyday I haven't even kissed a girl in 3 years since I'm not "Mormon" girls won't have anything to do with me It sucks hardcore style I hate our State
I also live in PR and I must say that like anhero says, here the ratings are rarely enforced. But hey how many times you hear 10 year olds over the mic on xbl or psn screaming because they got killed on COD4?
Not another state trying to make laws against video games again. You can thank Jack Thompson for getting this law past, unfortunately, he has no brain or common sense. He just wants to make a name for himself, he wants to be the person who brings down the video game market. The ESRB rating system is doing good, we don't need video game laws. It's a parents responsibility to determine what games their kids can play, not the gov't. I have a relative who is totally against newer video games. My stepmother believes that games turn kids into killers, she been this way since the 1990's. I asked her years ago if she ever played the games that she complains about and she said "No, if I play them, their turn me into a killer). She believes that the game companies put subliminal messages into games to turn people into killers.
So, become a Moron. You get like 5 of them as welcoming presents.
I feel cmonkey99's pain I also live in utah personally its the most *****ed up state out of all 50 you pretty much get hated if your not mormon or you get looked down. I'm glad I'll be moving this year.
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