Dems' bill would enforce video-game age controls (Hillary, RATS push moral values)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 12/16/05 | KRISTINA HERRNDOBLER

[Libloather]

Dems' bill would enforce video-game age controls
By KRISTINA HERRNDOBLER
Copyright 2005 Hearst News Service
Dec. 16, 2005, 9:05PM

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington to introduce federal legislation to protect children from inappropriate video games, December 16, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON - A trio of Democratic senators unveiled a proposal Friday to impose fines on retail outlets selling or renting violent and sexually explicit video games to children younger than 17.

In introducing the legislation, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Evan Bayh, D-Ind., said it would ensure that children can't buy games that the video game industry itself has determined to be inappropriate for them.

The industry-established Entertainment Software Rating Board rates video game content. Retailers can voluntarily display or use the ratings to develop their own store policies on the sale or rental of games to minors without parental consent.

Ratings, such as Everyone 10+, Mature and Adults Only, are displayed on the boxes of most video games. But the ratings are intended as guidance and store owners are under no federal obligation to withhold games from any age group.

If passed, this proposal would require retail stores to enforce the rating system and not sell or rent games to children younger than the suggested ages.

The measure represents a push by Democrats to gain the high ground on moral values, an issue Republicans have used effectively in recent elections.

[Libloather]

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) talks to journalists after a news conference to introduce federal legislation to protect children from inappropriate video games on Capitol Hill in Washington December 16, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at a joint news conference with Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) (L) on Capitol Hill in Washington to introduce federal legislation to protect children from inappropriate video games, December 16, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington to introduce federal legislation to protect children from inappropriate video games December 16, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), (R), attends a news conference, to introduce federal legislation to protect children from inappropriate video games, on Capitol Hill in Washington December 16, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, speaks at a fundraising dinner for her 2006 Senate campaign Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

[kanecorp]

But who will protect our kids from the RATS!? Who!!!!????

[EagleUSA]

But who will protect our kids from the RATS!? Who!!!!????
-----
The stinking commies just want to rule minds! This shows just how really useful the Thugocrats are to this country. CONTROL, CONTROL, POWER, POWER --- that is all they care about. Good little pinkos.

[diverteach]

This crap is getting f#$%ing ridiculous. As a matter of fact, I went shopping at walmart just this morning and commented to the checkout person how ridiculous it was that every other item being scanned wanted age verification. NONE were things alcohol or tobacco. I'm talking, glue, hairspray, ENGINE OIL, cleaner's, etc.

[joshhiggins]

said it would ensure that children can't buy games that the video game industry itself has determined to be inappropriate for them.

Would it also ensure that older friends, brothers, public school teachers etc. could not purchase or provide these games to children?

Would it ensure that children cannot have access to these dangerous games?

Wouldn't it be more effective if they just required that all dangerous video games have trigger locks to protect innocent childrens.

[Tarpon]

It's a village, do you know. Your child belongs to the village.

[Recon Dad]

The play book says talk family values three years before the Presidential election. This way we can go back to the people who make this stuff and tell them we don't really mean it so give us money.

[KCRW]

Wow- apparently it is okay to control Americans and the games they play on their X-boxes- but heaven forbid that a international terrorist's phone call is tapped when he calles into the US.

[rattrap]

'allo!

[G.Mason]

A good start would be to keep Joe "Plugs" Biden and John "The Prisoner" McCain off the TV on Sunday, then work their way down to everyone else in Congress.

I guarantee the economy will soar, the suicide rate will fall, and people will begin to act normal in just a few short weeks.

[Illuminatas]

I absolutely loathe anyone who uses the "Its for the children" line to impose whatever viewpoint they propound. I dont care if its Hillary with this BS, Tipper with the PMRC, or anyone on the religious right. I do make an exception for Anti-Abortion folks, because, well it actually is for the children, literally.

If parents cant parent, screw em. If I want to play GTA while blasting NWA's "Gangsta, Gangsta" that is my choice. (Pretty cool if you want to try it.) If I want to listen to jazz on my XM, while drinking port and smoking a cuban, and reading The Fountainhead, that is also my choice. (Also cool, but in a different way)

I dont want these #@$@#$ dictating my choices. If you dont like something, fine. Dont do it, change the channel, or dont buy your precious little Johnny the "offensive" videogame, you soccer mom douche. Be an effing parent already.

As George Carlin once said - "F the children"

/rant off

[EagleUSA]

But who will protect our kids from the RATS!? Who!!!!????

----
It really boils down to "who will protect our CONSTITUTION from the Thugocrats?" -- Rights? What are those?

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Does this mean they won't be able to market "White house Intern"? Just dang!

[Loyal Buckeye]

The RATS' moral values start and end with the Fedreal government.