From Deseret News archives:
Utah video-game bill more harm than good?
Graywhale CD Exchange, which has seven Utah locations, already restricts sales of "mature"-rated video games and CDs with explicit lyrics to youths, said store director Dustin Hansen. It is not uncommon, however, for a minor to return later with a parent, who makes the purchase.
"When you start throwing my (employees) in jail for selling a video game to somebody, it's ridiculous," Hansen said. "I do agree with not selling stuff to kids, I have morals. ... But I just don't think it's necessary to make it that severe when it should be the parents' responsibility."
The proposed bill, sponsored by Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, would amend the state's Material Harmful to Minors Act to include inappropriate violence in video games that "appeals to the morbid interest of minors."
A person convicted of providing harmful material to a minor, such as pornography, or, if Wyatt's measure passes, violent video games, is guilty of a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in jail.
The Legislature's Judiciary Interim Committee approved Wyatt's proposal on Wednesday.
"Obviously, they make the laws and we're going to have to defend them, but I am concerned that they'll pass a law that we won't be able to successfully defend in court," he said.
Still, a number of committee members on Wednesday argued that protecting children is worth fighting the $25 billion a year video game industry.
"Somewhere we have to stand up as citizens and parents and legislators and say, 'That's enough,"' said Rep. Dave Hogue, R-Riverton. "I very seriously think that we need to push this forward and find if we're going to have a challenge or not and have the attorney general fight those battles."
Hogue sponsored a similar measure in the 2006 Legislature. That bill passed the Utah House on a 56-8 vote but was never heard in the Senate. Hogue did not run for re-election, so he will not be in office to carry the bill through the 2007 legislative session.
Comments
- Defense witness goes on offensive 7:21 p.m.
- Pitta doesn't win award 7:20 p.m.
- Disappearance called 'sususpicious' 7:00 p.m.
- Depleted uranium OK'd for storage 6:51 p.m.
- Snow may fly with weekend warm-up 6:33 p.m.
- ATK to cut 800 jobs 6:11 p.m.
- Cops: Artist's son swipes paintings 5:57 p.m.
- Incentives to create new jobs 5:51 p.m.
- Teen to be tried as adult 5:45 p.m.
- Study: 5 steps to creativity 5:44 p.m.
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Defense witness goes on offensive
- BCS = power conference monopoly
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- 5 officers lose their certification
- Y.'s Emery bruised, but rarely beaten
- Letters: Global warming a lie
255 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
193 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
158 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
149 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
123 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
117 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
108
There was a time when free shipping was rare. This holiday season, you...
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
My wife Lisa and I would prefer never to argue. But that's not going to...
Pitta hands down should have got it. It just continues to show the ridiculous...
Those darned thermometers and their liberal bias!
@I hope 6:56 Do you not see the hypocrisy in your won post?!?!? Astounding.
Pagan 4:02 I certainly can provide specifics, as if you didn't know... Just...
Beautiful I was laid-off from ATK back in February. Good luck finding...
I agree with Wright's suggestion. Don't take babies and small children into...
the magic man!! ronaldinho!!!
The free market is why your kids aren't starving to death and you have color...
Aren't addictions wonderful? And so are women who just shamelessly throw...
Depleted uranium gets more radioactive over time, but I guess the Governor...



You can be the first to comment on this story.