Video Game makers and sellers liable for juvenile crime?

[schild]

The people in "power," no matter how little power they may have, don't give a shit about you. That's why they got to where they are. Stepping on everyone elses head. Thanks for writing the letter though. Optimism is cute.

[Strazos]

Hey, sometimes you gotta step on peoples' heads for the greater good.

[TheWalrus]

Just had the opportunity to view the local news stations coverage of this bill...

/gomerpyleon
Sorprise sorprise sorprise!
/gomeroff

One of the so-called people sponsoring the bill is a woman who could be a poster child for hippiedom. Peace, love and all that madness. God I want to shoot someone. My legislature made me do it.

[Paelos]

GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME!! I VOTE FUCKER!

I was just thinking how perfectly that paralleled the angry MMOGer yelling at the devs.

[SirBruce]

The Senator is trying to tell you, in Beltway Talk, that the bill was never going to go anywhere, and was just posturing.

Bruce

[gimpyone]

I have yet to get a response from either of my State Legisature Senators regarding  the governer's budget.  At least I'd like to have a response to my concerns.

[TheWalrus]

Wahoo, next response, from the Republican. (First was Democrat, still waitin on the last one.)

Dear Ted,
Thank you for contacting me regarding House Bill 2178.

This bill passed out of the Juvenile Justice and Family Law Committee
last night and was made eligible for the House Second Reading Calendar.
Should it be brought to a vote on the House Floor, I will definitely
keep your concerns in mind.

I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts regarding
personal responsibility with me.
Best wishes,
Jim Buck


Almost makes me feel like he actually read it considering the note on personal responsibility. I feel special and warm.

[Sky]

I guess it was too much to hope it died in committee last night :(

[Hoax]

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

[Paelos]

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

Taking time away from their busy schedules of massages, payoffs, and golf. Duh.

[Merusk]

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 who use that argument against porn, so it doesn't surprise me that it comes up against video games.  It's another evil that non-knowledgable people can blame the ills of the world on. Like electricity, the horseless carriage and whites and blacks sharing restrooms.

[HaemishM]

There's plenty of people who use that argument against porn...

Wow, what a bunch of assholes.

[WayAbvPar]

Only one response from my legislators so far-

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

I heard that it made it out of committee, which pretty much proves that those on the committee are unfit for their jobs.

[ClydeJr]

From the House Bill Report

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.

It sounds like they're just passing it so they can say "We care about the children, but the mean courts struck it down!"

[HaemishM]

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

What countries have they been banned in? Oh yes, good Communist countries and oppressive dictatorships like China and Iran, maybe.

Great examples of freedom there, cochese. Perhaps you'd like to go on record as saying that the Sudanese should just suck up the genocide instead of being pussies?

[WayAbvPar]

One of my representatives finally got back to me-

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

Good riddance. All that is left to do is take the co-sponsors out for a few kicks in the junk.