Oh Shit, Jack didn't waste any time. (NEW DETAILS)

[quietchat]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/693068/Conservative-Utah-Legislature-To-Pass-Thompson-Penned-Bill.html

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/02/06/source-game-biz-fight-over-jack-thompson039s-utah-legislation


Just several days ago I brought up a thread that showed Jack Thompson returning to the spotlight, gaining influence in Utah. Well, now he's come up with a law that would penalize retailers that advertise or sell mature rated games to minors. And it just so happens that Utah is ultra consertative, so for the first time we may see a law against video games actually passing and not being shot down by the courts.

Then again, there was also that law made some time back that said that if a law was introduced only to be shot down by the courts, the people responsible would be fined. I don't know if it only applies to certain states though.

In any case, I'll be keeping you posted on this as new info developes.



See below for new details:

[EvilWolf]

This is ALMOST as bad as the anon VS NCC...
I laughed when I learned the NCC got cursing banned in their town... If only they knew how unconstitutional it was...

[Silverleon]

Gah! I hate it when old people like him still think we're in the 1920s, jeez, what's he gonna try to fight next, the internet?!
altho he has low chane of doing anything to the game industry, he's still pretty annoying.

[atomsk]

bah even with the ultra conservatives its still unconstitutional

[Corwin]

While I'm not supporting this guy at all, this law is completely constitutional and is no different than finding a business for selling cigarettes or alcohol to a minor. We may not like it, but this one has the best chance of passing especially in Utah. The only reason he couldn't get something like this passed in another state is b/c too many retailers know how many "M" games they sell to minors and how much they would tentatively be paying in fines and thus banded together to help the game industry defeat this jackass. But for those of you who live in Utah and are under 17, already have jobs, or whose allowance is enough to allow you to buy your own games on a regular basis, be prepared to resort to new methods of getting your next installment of GTA or other such "M" games.


**Edit** Hmmm, reread the linked articles, and realized I got the wrong impression from QC's original post. While the statements in my post prior to edit are still essentially correct, I see that Mr. Thompson is trying to get ppl in trouble for selling games that have any sort of Mature content in them regardless of the game or movie's rating. Obviously this should be defeated on the basis that even a knowledgeable retailer should be forced to restrict minors from purchasing legal, age appropriate games b/c of one incidence of Mature themes in the game. It's also kind of ridiculous to expect a retailer to know enough about what is in each game to make that judgement on their own rather than using the rating system already imposed on games and movie by overprotective mothers and conservatives across the country.

[quietchat]

http://kotaku.com/5159645/jack-thompson-still-has-a-career-apparently


Okay, the law that this thread originally was made to point out has been passed by The Business and Labor Committee of the Utah House of Representatives. According to this update the next step is to be given to the full state House of Representatives for the State of Utah.

It also gives some details about the arguments for this new law, in which we have someone who reminds me of Mrs. Lovejoy of The Simpsons in the mentioned line that asks that someone thinks of the children.

There will likely be another news update on this in a couple of weeks, and then soon after a challenge by our friends in the ESA.

[puppetz]

ah man im tired of this game bullshit. old people need to realize that its just entertainment.

[quietchat]

http://kotaku.com/5163906/utah-falls-for-thompson-bill

We need more discussion in this thread;

Next update, the actual state House of Representatives has passed the bill 70-2. Next is for the bill to be passed by the state Senate. Still no word though from the ESA, which must be waiting for the bill to be passed before they argue it.

An interesting note with this newest update is the suggestion that Jack Thompson may have his start in going into a legislative career. This would be different from when he practiced law for the main reason that he's the guy that everyone hates BECAUSE he's pushing the laws.

[Sadrith]

I don't get
"70-2. This is a huge victory for parents everywhere. The bill, by the amendments we fashioned, is better. Now we go on to the Senate, where I expect passage, with the Governor then likely to sign it into law!"

how is this a victory for parents exactly.

[Sanehouse]

More importantly, why do parents assume that this is:

A) Best for their children?
B) What their children want?

If my parents went out and crusaded for some bullshit cause in my name, I'd tell them where to stick it.

[Silverleon]

Bah, highly doubt he's doing it for the kid's safety, i bet its either for $$$ or for the other ovbious reason::D:

[quietchat]

http://kotaku.com/5199296/utah-lawmakers-need-25k-to-override-veto-of-anti+game-bill


This is an update I've been meaning to post for about a week. Thankfully, the bill was not signed into law (The sneaky news commities having not said anything about it before this article), the governer feeling that it too would be getting the ban gavel from the courts.

In order to override the veto, they would need to take a vote. That voting alone costs more than they want to spend, because even if it succeeds, they need to give reason to defend it. Hopefully this will be the last we here of this bill.

[Memorix]

The only reason that this old guymis trying to do this is probably because he believes that games " fuel and breed violence and hatred " and are the root of all evil...

[Silverleon]

He's just jealous because he never had any cool games ::D: