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Bill would fine children for renting violent video games ST. PAUL -- People younger than 17 might find the costs of renting or buying restricted, violent video games might get a little steeper. A proposal from Rep. Jeff Johnson, a Republican from Plymouth who is running for state attorney general, would impose a $25 civil penalty on children who knowingly rent or buy such videos. The measure passed overwhelmingly 114-17.
Many Democrats argued that the bill lacked balance because it lacked penalties for stores that rent or sell such videos to children. Stores are penalized for selling pornography, cigarettes and alcohol to under-age customers, and Democrats argued that the same logic should be applied to the sale of violent videos. But Johnson said that provision probably wouldn't pass constitutional muster. Courts have thrown out such penalties against stores as intrusions on free speech. Democrats' efforts to amend the bill failed. Johnson cited the "Grand Theft Auto" series as an example of the kind of video-game fare children shouldn't be able to rent or buy. In one episode, a player shoots a police officer and dismembers his body with a chainsaw to gain points, Johnson said. In another, a player kills a prostitute to get his money back and urinates on her body. A similar bill has already passed the Senate. The measure originally made it a petty misdemeanor for a person younger than 17 to knowingly rent or purchase a restricted video. But Johnson changed it on the House floor to make it a civil violation, meaning the infraction would not end up on a child's record. Johnson also made it clear that his bill is aimed at getting the attention of parents who might be oblivious to what their children are watching. The bill requires retailers who sell or rent such videos to post
a sign that states, "It is against the law for a person under
17 to rent or purchase a video game rated AO or Mature." |