GamePolitics speaks with federal game bill sponsor, ESA deems bill unconstitutional
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ May 10th 2008 at 4:00PM }
GamePolitics has an interview with Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb), one of the congressmen, along with Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), attempting to pass a federal law forcing retailers to check IDs before selling M- and AO-rated games. One of the better moments in the interview is when GP asks Rep. Terry what game he was talking about when he stated there are titles players could score point for virtual rape. Terry responded, "That's a good question. I don't know of any [specific games] offhand... I just used the rape, pillage and plunder line..."
The ESA has publicly come out against the bill, with CEO Mike Gallagher saying that the bill is unconstitutional. He states the ESA shares the representatives' goals of "ensuring children are playing parent-approved computer and video games," but points out that all consoles now have parental settings which can be used to make sure kids play only the games their parents allow.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Scilent @ May 10th 2008 4:08PM
lol awesome school house rock video :D
Why dont they just slap the parents into paying attention instead of trying to pass all this BS.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ May 10th 2008 4:28PM
"I just used the rape, pillage and plunder line..."
WHAT KIND OF POLITICIANS ARE THESE?!
helios_eclipsed @ May 10th 2008 4:54PM
The political kind.
That's just how it goes.
Tiptup300 @ May 10th 2008 7:57PM
The American Kind!
Fuck Yeah!
dustandechoes91 @ May 10th 2008 4:33PM
I don't get whats so bad if they have to check your id. If they did that then people would stop complaining about kids buying m rated games they already aren't allowed to buy.
This is coming from a 16 year old-let them pass it. It seems to me like the best path would be to have m rated games treated as r rated movies.
mutagenaric @ May 10th 2008 4:53PM
Re:Dustandechoes91, obviously this would be the best path. But this is not, in fact, what they are creating. They want to fine people who try and purchase an M or AO rated game. This would basically make it worse to try to buy Halo than it would to buy a pack of cigarettes, for example. So, that's rather, mm, stupid, I'd say.
Honestly, they've basically admitted they're just making the damn legislation to score political points, haven't they? What with the "standard line" thing, or whatever they're calling it. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they've raped people themselves in the past and then covered it up at the taxpayers' expense; that's how this kind of thing works these days, isn't it?
Nick the Hero of Canton @ May 10th 2008 5:18PM
They aren't required to ID you for movies, music, and literature. The stores do just so they don't get angry parents ranting them at writing about them to the local paper no one reads.
usagi704 @ May 10th 2008 9:26PM
"It seems to me like the best path would be to have m rated games treated as r rated movies."
Actually, they already are. The MPAA movie ratings are not enforced by any laws just like the ESRB ratings. Besides, all this would do is make criminals out of people for no good reason. Is that really what you want?
Piet Aukeman @ May 10th 2008 4:39PM
In my state they've always checked. They have signs stating you have to be born by blah blah to buy said game. Every time I buy an M-rated game, even though I'm 17, they've asked for ID.
PiemanPieman @ May 10th 2008 4:47PM
Friend of mine had a funny run-in at a Gamestop. I believe at the time he was 19, but he didn't have a driver's license. Tried buying a M rated game, uh oh!
The best he could come up with for ID was his college student ID, and since that didn't have DOB, he just had to reason with the guy that if he was in college, he was old enough to buy the game.
waynski1457 @ May 10th 2008 8:22PM
LMAO, that exact thing happened to me the last time I bought an M rated game (I think it was Mass Effect). I have my ID now btw.
OMGOMG @ May 10th 2008 5:38PM
The Simpsons version of this is hilarious.
Kid: Well why can't we just make a law against flag burning?
Amendment: Because that law would be unconstitutional.
But if we changed the Constitution...
kid: Then we could make all sorts of crazy laws!
Amendment: Now you're catching on!
HighFiveJesus @ May 10th 2008 6:44PM
oh yeah! doors open, boys!
Lone Starr @ May 10th 2008 6:15PM
Unconstitutional? When has that stopped the government?
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 10th 2008 6:26PM
It shouldn't be passed. Just check IDs and make sure that the store employees aren't selling games to minors.
Also, "I'm just a Bill" is educationally awesome!
Kujel @ May 11th 2008 1:39AM
I like the amendment version better.
doc j @ May 10th 2008 6:34PM
The real question with this though is can we pass a law to finally determine the function... of conjunction junction.
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 10th 2008 7:37PM
And if our hero is really Zero.
LAWL @ May 10th 2008 10:32PM
Im just pulling these out of my ass,but honestly i dont think these politicians care at all about games,about children or the country.
That they dont even know what they talk about,and take it so un-serious,i dont think the goal is to pass the law(wich probably wont happen) but something else-unrelated to it.
Maybe to have their names get seen more? maybe its some congres fraternity test "go and try to make a game law to enter" is the new"dres as chick in a bar".
IDK,yet they keep trying for the sake of it ,so it must be another personal reason.
Jack doesnt count,hes just so crazy by now that it might be whatever.
J. Eubanks @ May 10th 2008 11:38PM
I wonder if these politicians are anything like the ones who speak out against gay rights and then get caught soliciting gay sex in bathrooms - like, do they crank out bills like this, then go home at night and stay up till 5:00 playing stuff like GTA4 and Manhunt?
Oreo @ May 11th 2008 2:32AM
Movies are supposed to check your age for rated R movies. You can't by porn without a ID so you shouldn't be able to buy a video game that could be a porn someday.
I don't see what the big deal is. M ratings get your mommie to buy you the game. That way when you shoot up your school the only people to blame are you and your parents and not the video games.
John @ May 11th 2008 10:26AM
Wow, I feel dumber having read your post. Thank you
Farseer (GDI) @ May 12th 2008 1:22PM
lol John, you read my mind. :)
Triforceowner @ May 11th 2008 11:48AM
"I'm an amendment to be, yes an amendment to be..."
Phil S. @ May 11th 2008 6:24PM
I'm not sure I see the big deal here. Let them make a law about carding for video games. I am fine with that.
If you listen to the news I am one of the few responsible parents out there. I would be upset if some store let my 15 year old buy GTA3. I DO own the game and I DO let my 15 year old play it. I will not however, even allow the game to be played when my 3 year old is awake.
I absolutely hate it when he parents get on TV saying that they can't believe that their kids are playing these violent/sexually explicit games. When they are asked how their kids got the games they invariably reply that they got it for them for their birthday, or some other such nonsense.
If you don't want your kids playing certain games it is your responsibility to say NO. THAT is part of being a parent.
Jimiisama @ May 11th 2008 7:24PM
Well, there are rape games out there... You don't know how hard it is to play it off when you have shortcuts on your desktop with some girl's face and Japanese text. =\
Dman4Life @ May 12th 2008 4:54AM
The reason why this is unconstitutional, is because they do not do this for other forms of media, such as books. A 13 year old can potentially walk into Barnes and Nobles, Books a Million, etc..., pick up one of those sleezy romance novels without being ID'd. Or a Science Fiction novel that goes into graphic detail about gore and violence and nobody would think twice. Hell, Afternoon Soap Operas which contain violence, cursing, sex, revenge, backstabbing, can be seen from 12-4pm in the afternoon on LOCAL television, and nobody says word one about them. What the ESA is saying, is it's not the government's job to decide what is acceptable to some kids, and what isn't. It's not their job to set guidelines for parents. It's the parents job to be parents. If the parents were truly that concerned about what their kids were playing, they'd take the time and sit down with them and actually read the rating which is CLEARLY printed on the front and back of the box which details what is in the game, instead of just handing a kid some cash or picking up a box off the shelf and saying "I want this one...." while handing it to a clerk at a game store.