Keeping Violence Away from the Kids

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Conservative groups and some Utah lawmakers are convinced that stores should be banned from selling violent video games to minors. The change could also affect parents or older siblings who play an adult-rated video game in the presence of a child. KCPW's Julie Rose reports:

 

Whether or not violent video games cause children to be violent is still up in the air. But if Utah lawmakers decide to lump violent video games in with pornography and other items considered harmful to minors, it's nearly certain the state will end up in court. Some lawmakers believe the cost of litigation is worth it to send a message to the video game industry.

But on Friday, a house committee backed away from the plan and decided instead to pass a resolution that will instruct Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to express their concerns in friend-of-the-court briefs in states where similar violent video game bans are being litigated. Shurtleff has asked lawmakers not to pass the bill and invest, instead, in educating parents to supervise the video games their kids play.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW