Lawmakers Consider State Regulation of Violent Video Games
Lawmakers
Consider State Regulation of Violent Video Games
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ray Carter, House Media
Capitol: (405) 557-7421
Contact: State Rep. Fred Morgan
Capitol: (405) 557-7409
Oklahoma City: (405) 232-8131
Lawmakers Consider State Regulation of Violent Video Games
OKLAHOMA CITY (October 4) - State officials can regulate video games
without violating constitutional free speech protections, Oklahoma
lawmakers were informed today.
However, government officials must demonstrate that a regulation
will have measurable impact and address a "compelling state interest," a
legal expert said.
Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee met
Tuesday to discuss regulating violent video games.
State Rep. Fred Morgan, who requested the legislative study,
said research indicates exposure to violent video games leads to
anti-social behavior in children, particularly in young boys. Repeated
exposure to such games can lead to violent behavior and criminal acts.
"These games are becoming more and more complex, more and more
sophisticated, and they've become more and more violent with more sexual
content in them," said Morgan, R-Oklahoma City.
He noted studies show violent video games can "desensitize
children to violence towards women and violence in general."
Dr. Eric Dlugokinski, a licensed psychologist and professor
emeritus at OU Health Sciences Center, told lawmakers he has treated
many youth addicted to violent video games. Because children are active
participants in the games, he said video games actually model behaviors
that children may repeat in real life.
Although the video game industry uses a rating system, Morgan
said many parents are not aware of the content of specific games and
that children are circumventing the rating system.
He cited a study showing 50 percent of boys ages seven to 14
have played a video game with a "Mature" rating.
Andrew Lester, an attorney from the Edmond firm of Lester,
Loving & Davies, said the courts have ruled states may regulate violent
video games only if officials can show exposure to the games results in
measurable harm. The state must also be able to prove the regulations
will have a quantified, positive impact.
Lester said the courts consider "protection of youth" to be a
"compelling state interest" that would justify the regulation of violent
video games, but the state must be able to demonstrate a regulation will
"alleviate provable harm to minors"
He also noted that the sexual content now found in many video
games could also allow the state to regulate them through obscenity law.
An Illinois law that may be used as a model in Oklahoma bans
specific depictions of violence in video games.
Morgan said any legislation he files will also incorporate the
findings of studies showing a link between violent video games and
increased aggressive behavior in children.
"This is not an easy issue," Morgan said. "I do anticipate a
court challenge to any legislation we may pass, but this is a problem
that needs to be addressed."
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