Calling Californiaâs violent video games law âan embarrassment,â the L.A. Times says the state shouldnât create another by appealing its overturning to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Times pointed out the lawâs obvious flaws â too broadly defined, zero causal link between violent games and the harms claimed, etc., before winding up with the common sense that seems to flee this sort of debate whenever it gets into a statehouse:
The primary responsibility for protecting minors from potentially harmful influences lies with parents, as it did long before video games were a twinkle in a programmerâs eye. Parents donât need a law to urge makers of video games to strengthen their current voluntary ratings systems. More important, they donât need permission from a legislator or judge to keep an eye on what their children are doing â or playing.
Remember, the law didnât ban violent games, just required their labeling and stiffened fines for selling them to minors. It still fell short of justifying any prior restraint of free expression.
The stateâs struggling with cutbacks to balance a budget that was $50 zillion in the hole, and the worst drought in a generation is expected later this year. Plus Brownâs tangled up in the Prop. 8 appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This stupid law should not be anywhere near a priority.
Violent Video Games: who Controls the Joystick? [Los Angeles Times via GamePolitics
