No Fines for Violent Game Sales to Minors

As you may have known, the Supreme Court finally revealed its final ruling on the California vs EMA case, the one discussing whether or not selling a violent video game to minors would be fineable in California. Citing the First Amendment as the main reason, the Supreme Court defended gamers by saying that games are under protection by the Constitution and could not be fineable under law.

I will admit that when I first read this, I really had no idea why it was such a big deal. Violent games not being able to be sold to minors (at least more strictly then it already is)? Sounds like a good idea. It took me awhile of really thinking about it (and a bit of research) to understand; why should video games be fined like this when books and movies aren't?

I had no idea that the only medium that could incur fines for selling to minors was pornography. The thought that a group of individuals was trying to say that video games are as harsh as pornography both angered and amused me. Of course, the anger came from the idea that video games should be penalized because they are interactive, something that really doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things. The laughter came from the thought that a video game rating is SO MUCH MORE STRICT than even an R-rated movie and that these people believed a violent video game, one that isn't even on the level of some R-rated movies, is equivalent to porn.

Of course, the biggest surge of anger came from Senator Leland Yee's comments after the case, the senator behind the whole thing. He is upset that violent game sales to minors don't have stricter penalties (something I undestand but don't believe should happen unless it happens to every medium). He argues that since this law didn't pass, more violent games can be sold to children.

Wait, huh? Doesn't he know that most stores that sell games WILL NOT sell M-rated games to children under 17? Sure, there isn't a fine, but most retailers will come down hard on any employee that does happen to break the rule. Even if, what about the parents? Any time someone brings up this issue I wonder why no one blames the parents. The ratings system is there for a reason and parents should KNOW what their kids are playing. No one should have to regulate video games except parents.