5/11/2005
House Approves Bill To Restrict Explicit Video Games To Minors
May 10, 2005, 4:56 PM
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Selling or renting sexually explicit video games to minors would carry the same penalties as distributing pornography under legislation approved Tuesday by the state House.
The House voted 108-0 to send the bill to the Senate, which is considering legislation that would prohibit the sale or rental of violent video games to minors.
The House bill would add the term "video game" to the definition of sexually explicit in the law that prohibits such materials from being distributed to minors, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
"These video games have no right to be in the hands of kids," said Rep. Phil Pavlov, a St. Clair Township Republican who introduced the bill. "Children are being desensitized from continually playing these games."
Democratic Rep. Kathy Angerer of Dundee failed to win approval for an amendment that would have prohibited the sale or rental of violent video games to those under 18. Those convicted of the crime would have faced up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine under her amendment.
"These bills do not provide any protection from the graphically violent games available today," Angerer said in a written statement. "We should not make these games available to 10- and 11-year-old children."
Democratic Reps. Chris Kolb of Ann Arbor and LaMar Lemmons III did not vote on the bill.
Rep. Leon Drolet, a Republican from Macomb County's Clinton Township, said the House didn't include the language prohibiting the sale of violent video games to minors because the Senate is set to take up legislation covering that issue.
Drolet was among three representatives who voted against a related bill that would require video game retailers to post a sign explaining the rating system for the games, including what scenes and situations are allowed for each rating. Businesses that do not display such a sign could face a civil infraction carrying a fine up to $1,000 under the bill.
The House voted 104-3 to approve the bill, introduced by Rep. Tom Pearce, R-Rockford.
"When you look at the rating system and what it describes, it gives you a whole different flavor," Pearce said. "This is a simple tool that helps a parent just before they are going to purchase a game."
But Drolet said the bill is an attempt to interfere with private businesses.
"Our interest is in protecting children from exposure to inappropriate material. We don't need to micromanage," he said.
Lemmons also missed the vote on Pearce's bill with his father, LaMar Lemmons Jr., and Andy Dillon of Redford Township, both Democrats.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Selling or renting sexually explicit video games to minors would carry the same penalties as distributing pornography under legislation approved Tuesday by the state House.
The House voted 108-0 to send the bill to the Senate, which is considering legislation that would prohibit the sale or rental of violent video games to minors.
The House bill would add the term "video game" to the definition of sexually explicit in the law that prohibits such materials from being distributed to minors, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
"These video games have no right to be in the hands of kids," said Rep. Phil Pavlov, a St. Clair Township Republican who introduced the bill. "Children are being desensitized from continually playing these games."
Democratic Rep. Kathy Angerer of Dundee failed to win approval for an amendment that would have prohibited the sale or rental of violent video games to those under 18. Those convicted of the crime would have faced up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine under her amendment.
"These bills do not provide any protection from the graphically violent games available today," Angerer said in a written statement. "We should not make these games available to 10- and 11-year-old children."
Democratic Reps. Chris Kolb of Ann Arbor and LaMar Lemmons III did not vote on the bill.
Rep. Leon Drolet, a Republican from Macomb County's Clinton Township, said the House didn't include the language prohibiting the sale of violent video games to minors because the Senate is set to take up legislation covering that issue.
Drolet was among three representatives who voted against a related bill that would require video game retailers to post a sign explaining the rating system for the games, including what scenes and situations are allowed for each rating. Businesses that do not display such a sign could face a civil infraction carrying a fine up to $1,000 under the bill.
The House voted 104-3 to approve the bill, introduced by Rep. Tom Pearce, R-Rockford.
"When you look at the rating system and what it describes, it gives you a whole different flavor," Pearce said. "This is a simple tool that helps a parent just before they are going to purchase a game."
But Drolet said the bill is an attempt to interfere with private businesses.
"Our interest is in protecting children from exposure to inappropriate material. We don't need to micromanage," he said.
Lemmons also missed the vote on Pearce's bill with his father, LaMar Lemmons Jr., and Andy Dillon of Redford Township, both Democrats.
