Gov. Rod Blagojevich has taken an aggressive stand on exposure of Illinois’s minors to violent and sexually explicit video games, by proposing a ban on the sale of the video games. He asked other states to join hands in making the growing violence in fast-selling video games illegal for youngsters below 18 years. “Grand Theft Auto” series, “Halo 2” and “Mortal Kombat” are few of the targeted video games containing adult materials.
Blagojevich said that he is against the video games using realistic representation of human-on-human violence. Many of such games include dismemberment and disfigurement while allowing kids to imitate and participate in violent and sexual activities. The controversial British video game, “JFK Reloaded,” which allows the players to take on the role of presidential assassin is said to have stirred Blagojevich’s proposal.
The current Illinois law has no prohibition on the $7 billion video game industry. Retailers selling violent or sexually explicit video games to people under 17 are only booked for sloppy enforcement. In accordance to the proposed legislation, the person found violating the law will treated as a Class A misdemeanor and will face imprisonment up to one year or a $5,000 fine. It mentions that retailers have to label violent or sexually explicit video games with general labels such as "M" for "mature." Blagojevich will introduce the proposal to the legislature in January. The earlier attempts by the state and local governments across the country to restrict the sale or rental of violent games yielded little or no success.
Meanwhile the Illinois Retail Merchants Association groused over the governor’s proposal as a way for retailers to become "the violence and sensitivity police for the state of Illinois." Reacting on the proposed legislation, David Vite, president and executive officer of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association said that the government decision is biased. He said that their taxpaying, tax-generating and employing companies are asked to do the things what parents should be doing.
