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House Bill 2178 proposes to hold the makers and sellers of violent video games liable if someone under 17 years old commits a crime, due in any part, to playing the game.

Supporters of the bill, like Bill Hanson with the Washington Police and Sheriff's Association, say "kids" are getting the games, and they're becoming desensitized.

"If you sit up and watch this and play these games over and over again... it seems that this is alright to walk up and hit a police officer over the head with a bat," Hanson said.

It's good to see that Americans are keeping up their post-60s tradition of refusing to accept any responsibility for their own mistakes. If it's not games, it's the Media, the Devil, or the Man.

I hate people.

Yes, but what those responsibilities are can vary greatly. Obviously, who the audience is will matter - a game marketed for pre-teens will bear a greater burden than one marketed to adults. (Assuming that games intended for an adult audience aren't being consumed by pre-teens ... whoops, there's a can of worms.) It also depends on how the values taught within the game world relate to reality. Sometimes shooting invading aliens to save the planet has nothing to do with teaching one to use violence to solve real-world problems.

The question is a bit double-sided. I don't think it's a big deal if games don't teach positive values, but I do think it's an issue if games teach poor values. After all, we wouldn't fault Tetris for not teaching us higher moral standards, or Pac-Man for failing to present a higher meaning to life.
- Josh Giesbrecht, Electronic Arts

Absolutely, game creators do. I, personally, have obtained nearly all of my morals from video games, especially playing RPGs. Any form of media, from literature to television to video games, influences those who view it and shape who these people are. Although I cannot think of any specific games to point to this, many games present moral values to the player, either blatantly or subtly, and imprint themselves onto the player. Of course, how much the game influences the player depends greatly upon age and how permanent his/her current mindset is. Some players, like me, are still largely moldable and adaptable, but others might be less so. The best way to present good morals to the audience would be with a powerfully grasping storyline that shows the player, through the conflicts that the player character goes through, just how important and right certain morals are.
- Alex Marsh

The funniest thing is, most of the people who support this bill are going to be the same people who would say that gun manufacturers should NOT be held accountable. (Not that I think they should be held accountable, but it seems to me selling a gun called the "Street Sweeper" is as bad as selling GTA)

If kids are getting their hands on games rated MA, someone should be punished, but not the game makers. That's like saying if someone has sex after watching an R rated movie the movie makers should go to jail. There are ratings for a reason.

When it comes to guns, these people ALWAYS say that enforcement is the issue. Why isn't that true of games? Just enforce the ratings.

(As a side note on that graving yard project, one of the local indigenous peoples wrote in to the paper and said because people have opposing viewpoints on an issue, that doesn't make them racist. She then went on to define racism as discrimination based on color, and PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT WHITE SUPREMACY. Since we all know only white people are capable of racism. Grr.)

Big long tirade.

The Representative who introduced it appears to have a liberal record, so perhaps Alkiera is right. When it comes to video-game related stuff the parties don't seem to be clearly divided.

Conservatives will cast the argument as personal responsibility, and liberals will cast it as freedom and anti-censorship. So you would think neither party would really be behind issues like this.

I  think DEA gives screenwriters certain funds to write anti-drug plotlines into certain popular tv shows.  However stupid those plots tend to be, why not just do something along those lines?

I  think DEA gives screenwriters certain funds to write anti-drug plotlines into certain popular tv shows.  However stupid those plots tend to be, why not just do something along those lines?

GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME!! I VOTE FUCKER!

Yeah wait a minute wtf is that thing doing actually taking up government officials time?

They either truly believe that most people are blank slates of action waiting for some impetus to tell them what to do. I wonder what it's like to see the world in that light. I also wonder why these people think that if kids can be effected by video games enough to become killers, why couldn't the same exact thing happen to the people who are asking for the video game manufacturers to be punished? Why couldn't they also become killers by playing GTA, or become rapists by watching a pr0n video?

There's plenty of people (http://www.ccv.org/) who use that argument against porn...

Thank you for contacting my office, I appreciate hearing from you.

This bill is currently in the House, and so has not yet come before me for consideration.  I will keep your thoughts in mind should this bill make it to my desk.

Sincerely,

Brian Weinstein
State Senator
41st Legislative District

Testimony For: The concern is for ultra-violent video games and the impact on some individuals. We know there is a rating system, but young children are still able to purchase these games. Some people across the country are addicted to these ultra-violent video games and are committing crimes. There have been efforts across the country to ban these games and they have been banned in several countries. One problem in Washington in bringing lawsuits is the difficulty of proving a direct enough cause to succeed. The bill still requires a heavy burden, but allows a person a day in court to prove the injury caused to the families. Police officers on the street believe these videos cause violent acts. Someone has to get the attention of these manufacturers.

Testimony Against: We have taken significant steps to limit access of children to these videos. This bill will increase lawsuits because it will reduce the proximate cause that is required. If this bill passes a suit can be filed if a person plays a game. This bill is not the answer. The bill creates a huge liability to manufacturers for acts that they themselves did not commit. It is the role of the parent to monitor their kids. Washington is a thriving community for this industry and we shouldn't make it difficult for this industry to thrive. Education is the answer. This bill will not survive a constitutional challenge.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Dickerson, prime sponsor; Bill Hanson, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs; Nick Federici, National Association of Social Workers; and Jack Thompson, Attorney.

(Opposed) Mark Johnson, Washington Retail Association; Lew McMurran, Washington Software Association; and Jean Leonard, Entertainment Software Association.

There have been efforts across the country to ban these games and they have been banned in several countries

Thank you for your email regarding HB 2178.  This bill died in House Appropriations when it didn't pass out of committee prior to the deadline on Wednesday. 

Fred Jarrett
State Representative
41st Legislative District