CA Video Game Bill Declared Unconstitutional, Leland Yee's Bitter
Well, it only took two years to get here, but we finally did. A little background: in October 2005, Leland Yee's bill was signed into law. The general purpose of the law was to ban the sale of violent video games to minors. It took ten days for the gaming industry to file a lawsuit aimed at defeating the bill, it was blocked by Judge Roland Whyte and has been wasting away in legal purgatory since then. Earlier today, Whyte gave a final ruling:
The evidence does not establish that video games, because of their interactive nature or otherwise, are any more harmful than violent television, movies, internet sites or other speech-related exposures.Although some reputable professional individuals and organizations have expressed particular concern about the interactive nature of video games, there is no generally-accepted study that supports that concern. There has also been no detailed study to differentiate between the effects of violent videos on minors of different ages.
The court, although sympathetic to what the legislature sought to do by the Act, finds that the evidence does not establish the required nexus between the legislative concerns about the well-being of minors and the restrictions on speech required by the Act.
Needless to say, Leland Yee is not terribly thrilled about this development. Somehow, I can't bring myself to feel bad for him, though.
BREAKING: California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional [GamePolitics]
Boy of Tomorrow
Posted to Video Games on 6 August 2007
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: california, leland yee, video game industry wins again, video game legislation
I'm crying for Yee. Really, I am.
Did I mention I'm a crocodile? :D
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/06/breaking-schwarzenegger-will-appeal-ca-video-game-ruling/
Looks like the Govinators trying to repeal the law being unconstitutional, good luck Ahnold, you're certainly going to need it.
I swear, these people make my brain hurt, alot.