Déjà vu: New bill would give ESRB video game ratings the force of law

Congressman Jim Matheson (D-Utah) has introduced a bill – H.R. 287 – to the United States House of Representatives which would give the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s rating scheme – heretofore a voluntary, self-regulatory system – the force of law and make it illegal to sell “Mature” or “Adults Only” titles to minors.

[wita]

Let's hope the industry pulls through.

[Lifeequals42]

I'm sorta puzzled how this in any way different from the California bill that the Supreme Court already struck down as unconstitutional. Anyone?

[BrianC6234]

Maybe it's a state versus federal issue? The feds have a lot more power. A state can't just do what they want. That might explain it.

[Lifeequals42]

And yet the fact that the previous California bill went to the Supreme Court of the land seemingly established a nation-wide precedent. Doesn't compute.

[BrianC6234]

"And yet the fact that the previous California bill went to the Supreme Court of the land seemingly established a nation-wide precedent. Doesn't compute."

But the Court only looked at it as a state doing it. The federal government has more power. I have no idea what they're trying to do though. I just brought it up that maybe that's why it's being done. States can't do as much as the feds can.

[JeffGrubb]

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

[TM333]

One of the best sayings ever!

[kma2k]

You quoting Eisenstein or Vass?

[MidnytRain]

I read that Einstein was not the origin of that quote anyway...

[NagaSotuva]

What?

[mightylucky]

so they are just trying to pass a law that many other countries already use. big deal lol

[dasteru]

I must be missing something here.

Last i checked it already is illegal to sell M rated games to anyone under 17 unless accompanied by an adult and A rated to anyone under 18.

Most retailers still do sell M rated games to underage people but it always has been illegal.

[Lifeequals42]

It is not illegal under the law, but doing so would violate the ESRB self-regulatory system and subject the offender to internal action. But it's not illegal. AB 1179 and this one try to make it codified under law.

[showtimefolks]

Seriously these people need to stop blaming their issues on us. And how come the so called kids that were killed have no existed and some who are supposedly dead met with president Bama after their so called deaths?

How come Facebook pages for some of the kids were created 3full days in advance?

So much conspiracy with the governments but guess what when all else fails lets just blame gaming for all the issues, if someone watches porn than go out and rapes someone than is it on porn industry?

If someone watches gone in 60 seconds than start stealing cars is it on movie industry?

As long as you have mentally retareded or stupid people in this world shit will happen so you can't always blame the media for this sometimes you have to take into account than it was a bad apple

[joeyisback]

Wonder if they going to ban abortion's then since it kill's more babies then guns since they say games can cause someone to kill with a gun smh

[Hydralysk]

Oh boy, thanks for bringing abortion into this argument for no reason, cause just one controversial topic isn't causing enough rage clearly.

[doogiebear]

He's just giving an analogy to show the hypocrisy of society and the government's so-called moral upkeeping. besides, if it's controversial, than that's only because there are more than one point of view on the topic. And he is entitled to his view.

[cpayne93]

@donbear he is entitled to his opinion, but unfortunately when the average person sees someone with a different belief then them the first thought that comes to mind is that the other person is an idiot. Main problem today is that we can't discuss difference of beliefs rationally, because everyone is just so close-minded. Everyone seems to think that if you don't believe the way they do, you are either a bigot or an idiot.

[Minato-Namikaze]

Abortion is a completely different subject matter

[kma2k]

I would have no problem with this if it applied to all forms of media. Tv, Books, Movies, Music, & Games.

Having said that though this already went to court & failed its doom to repeat if it does!

[Summons75]

"H.R. 287 would “require ratings label on video games” and “prohibit the sales and rentals of adult-rated video games to minors.”

Oh my that would sit quite nicely next the the M rating which already prohibits sales to minors. /s

Get out of here politicians you clearly know nothing about video games f you don't know stores can already get fined for selling an M game to a minor. Parents buy M games do their children (most to shut them up for a couple hours). Hell stores don't even sell A games because no one wants that dirt on their hand.

[Tctczach]

Less squeakers is ok with me.

[FarCryLover182]

I thought it was illegal for a minor to buy an M rated game anyway?

[JeffGrubb]

No way. That's a violation of the first amendment. It is also not illegal for a minor to see an r-rated movie at the theater.