Ruling against age limit on game sales upheld

[5stringJeff]

Woo-hoo!

------------
Ruling against age limit on game sales upheld
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, February 21, 2009

(02-20) 12:00 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- California's ban on selling video games to minors is unconstitutional because even the most graphic on-screen mayhem is free speech, and there's no convincing evidence it causes psychological damage to young people, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

"The government may not restrict speech in order to control a minor's thoughts," said the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in upholding a federal judge's ruling against the law, which has never been enforced. Similar laws in other states have also been struck down.

The head of an industry group that challenged the law praised the court's "rejection of video game censorship." State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, sponsor of the law, urged state officials to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...BAI9161PAJ.DTL

[Abbey Marie]

By this logic, we should get rid of all age restrictions on movies. too. Let the little ones see R and even NC-17 movies without parental permission.

[dan]

Awesome! Here's to the first amendment:

[Mr. P]

Will the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the most overturned court in the USA, also allow the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors too?

MORONS!

[dan]

I mean, it's not like there's that many kids who want to play and adult video game and don't get to. Just like there are very few teens who want to drink and/or smoke but don't because they're not old enough to buy it themselves.

[DannyR]

Will the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the most overturned court in the USA, also allow the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors too?

MORONS!

Why is the government in the nanny state business? Shouldn't PARENTS be the ones limiting what their kids watch and do?

Realistically though, while I love the 1st amendment and think parents should be the ones limiting their kids anyway, I don't see this ruling standing.

Since video games can contain full video in them, does this mean that a game like Playboy Mansion would be fine if it contained nude pics? And whats the difference between a game and going to a violent movie?

[Mr. P]

Why is the government in the nanny state business? Shouldn't PARENTS be the ones limiting what their kids watch and do?

Realistically though, while I love the 1st amendment and think parents should be the ones limiting their kids anyway, I don't see this ruling standing.

Since video games can contain full video in them, does this mean that a game like Playboy Mansion would be fine if it contained nude pics? And whats the difference between a game and going to a violent movie?

ABSOLUTELY! Parents are and should be the guide..but in this day as Dan eluded it's VERY difficult. So that's why I can't accept making it easy for kids that WILL do what kids will do, while making it MUCH more difficult for parents to parent.

[LiberalNation]

I hafta buy my brother M rated games. It is a pain and really these games are not all that bad. Good for thi court even if it will prolly be overturned. I've never liked age restrictions and that 21 to drink has never kept those under 21 from drinking.

[Mr. P]

I hafta buy my brother M rated games. It is a pain and really these games are not all that bad. Good for thi court even if it will prolly be overturned. I've never liked age restrictions and that 21 to drink has never kept those under 21 from drinking.

Speed limits don't keep everyone from speeding either but most folk abide by the law.

[LiberalNation]

no most folks don't abide by speeding laws, it's almost always 5 to 10mph over.

[Abbey Marie]

no most folks don't abide by speeding laws, it's almost always 5 to 10mph over.

If there were no speeding laws, those people would be going 20-30 miles faster.

[DannyR]

If there were no speeding laws, those people would be going 20-30 miles faster.

Very true. Generally its well known here in Georgia that most police won't pull you over for 10 mph over the limit.

I regularly hit 80mph every day going into work and I'm still being passed (until I hit rush hour surge, then I go 0!)

[dan]

Yeah, but that's jaw-ja, they're basically one step away from martial law over there anyway!

Hijack: I think we've probably got more people from GA on here than any other state. I guess maybe CA is in the running, too.

[Mr. P]

Yeah, but that's jaw-ja, they're basically one step away from martial law over there anyway!

Hijack: I think we've probably got more people from GA on here than any other state. I guess maybe CA is in the running, too.

8 that I can think of off the top of my head. All north of the gnat line too!

[dan]

8 that I can think of off the top of my head. All north of the gnat line too!

what's the gnat line?

I can think of you, Jeff, the other Jeff, emmett, and now DannyR. Who am I missing?