US Discrict Court judge George Steeh today has blocked - albeit
only temporarily - Michigan's violent games law from taken effect, citing that the state "has been unable to
demonstrate the perceived harm it seeks to protect against." Steeh gives credit to the plaintiffs (the ESA, VSDA, and
Michigan Retailers Association) for demonstrating "that the Act is unlikely to survive strict scrutiny, and that
irreparable harm follows from the loss of First Amendment freedoms."
With two other lawsuits in progress over very similar laws (ESA has filed suit in both
Illinois and
California), these statements could set precedent in all
the proceedings. Florida is drafting a bill, and
Delaware is proposing one based on the ESRB. How do you
think the ESA would react to a bill based on the ESRB's pre-established ratings?
[thanks, bandersnatch and steve]
