Not content with allowing legal jackals like Jack Thompson to attempt to sue the freedom of expression out of gaming companies, lawmakers in Washington State want to hold the makers and sellers of violent video games liable for the actions of idiot teenagers.

House Bill 2178 would make game developers and publishers responsible for the actions of any one under 17 who commits a crime, due in any part to playing a game. Just how a person would go about proving that the law breaking was due to a game is beyond me.

Now take a deep breath for a second and think about this.

Can you imagine if lawmakers tried to pass a similar law for music or movies? If the makers of the Wild One or Rebel Without a Cause could be held responsible for every act of biker violence or teenage angst committed during the 50s or if someone decided to sue Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction. What the hell is wrong with our society that people can no longer be held responsible for their own actions?

The bill s supports like the Washington Police and Sheriff s Association say teens are getting their hands on the games and becoming desensitized to violence.

We re not talking about alcohol. We re talking about a medium, a form of expression, a game. If you re so worried about the youth of today getting wound up after playing a little GTA then look to the parents who let their kids play violent games, or worse yet, don t care what their children are playing or doing.

This shouldn t even be an issue. It s certainly not a question of what is right or wrong, it s a matter of doddering fools tricked by the double-speak of the likes of Thompson into trying to pass laws.

I d hazard a guess that the Washington Police and Sheriff s Association couldn t tell you the difference between a Game Boy and an 8-track.

Bill Would Hold Game Makers Accountable For Players' Actions [Komo News]

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