Luke over at 1Up chatted with California politician Leland Y. Yee about freedom of speech and video games. Yee spearheaded a bill through the State Assembly that prohibits selling ultra-violent video games throughout the Golden State. Banning the sale of these games does not contradict First Amendment rights contests Yee.

"When you have information that says there are harmful effects to children - you have to draw the line. Just like adult material laws do not prevent anyone from producing adult movies and adult magazines, just don't let kids buy it, that's all," the politician said.

But, isn't that where the retailers and the ESRB come in? "The Federal Trade Commission's undercover study that nearly 70% of kids would be able to purchase an M-rated video game," he add. "More recently, the Harvard study says that the ESRB doesn't give accurate information."

Hal Halpin read Luke's piece and sent in the following retort: "It is unfortunate the Mr. Yee remains woefully uninformed regarding the FTC's findings with regard to voluntary retail efforts at self-regulation. He is either quoting an out-dated several year-old study, or has missed the press regarding their latest findings: that the nation's leading retailers, our members, are successfully carding for M-rated games 65% of the time - which puts the games industry on par with his "Gold Standard," the movie theatre owners, who card at 69% of the time."

If retailers (and hopefully parents) are handling the situation, should the government be regulating "ultra-violent" games as it does pornography? And honestly, should it let politicians that hob-knob with Paula Abdul propose legislation?

Luke's Article [1Up]