After the release of the JFK: Reloaded game in November of last year, a law was proposed in Illinois to ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors.
On Saturday, lawmakers in the state voted to implement the law by a huge majority of 106-6, and it now goes to the desk of Governor Rod Blagojevich, who proposed the law in the first place:
"In today's world, parents face unprecedented challenges in monitoring and protecting their children from harmful influences. This bill will make their job easier," Blagojevich said, praising the House's 106-6 vote. The state Senate approved the bill earlier this month.
Under the legislation, clerks who knowingly sell adult video games to minors could be fined $1,000. They could defend themselves by showing they did not know the buyer was a minor or that they followed the industry ratings on the games.
The legislation leaves it to stores to determine which games are too violent or sexually explicit for minors, and retailers have argued it turns them into violence and sensitivity police.
Ill. Lawmakers Seek Video Game Sales Ban - via Kotaku
Gov. Blagojevich poised to make Illinois only state in the nation to protect children from violent and sexually explicit video games
California game-ban law comes closer to reality (10 May)
JFK Reloaded released on 41st anniversary of assassination (Nov 2004)
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