SCOTUS Strikes CA Video Game Restrictions

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Shoot 'em if you got 'em...

7-2 with the odd couple Steven Breyer and John Roberts dissenting...

OVerall-- good decision, IMHO....

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_supreme_court_violent_video_games

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday refused to let California clamp down on the sale or rental of violent video games to children, saying governments lack authority to "restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed" despite complaints that the popular and fast-changing technology allows the young to simulate acts of brutality.

On a 7-2 vote, the high court upheld a federal appeals court decision to throw out California's ban on the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Sacramento had ruled that the law violated minors' rights under the First Amendment, and the high court agreed.

"No doubt a state possesses legitimate power to protect children from harm," said Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote the majority opinion. "But that does not include a free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed."

Video game makers and sellers celebrated their victory, saying the decision puts them on the same legal footing as other forms of entertainment. "There now can be no argument whether video games are entitled to the same protection as books, movies, music, and other expressive entertainment," said Bo Andersen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Merchants Association.

More than 46 million American households have at least one video-game system, with the industry bringing in at least $18 billion in 2010.

But at least two justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, indicated they would be willing to reconsider his vote throwing out the law, taking issue with the sweep of the court's holding.

"I would not squelch legislative efforts to deal with what is perceived by some to be a significant and developing social problem," Alito said, suggesting that a narrower state law might be upheld.

[floridayankee]

Jun 27, 2011 11:28:07 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday refused to let California clamp down on the sale or rental of violent video games to children, saying governments lack authority to "restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed" despite complaints that the popular and fast-changing technology allows the young to simulate acts of brutality.

And all this time, I thought it was my job, as the parent, to do the clamping down.

Silly me.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

floridayankee ... you're correct. That's the responsibility of parents.

[ed1066]

Jun 27, 2011 15:33:34 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

floridayankee ... you're correct. That's the responsibility of parents.

Yet California feels it IS their responsibility to teach public school kindergartners about homosexual lifestyles. Interesting dichotomy...

[Shirina]

Yet California feels it IS their responsibility to teach public school kindergartners about homosexual lifestyles. Interesting dichotomy...

Ignorance incarnate.

[pappyjohn99]

Ignorance incarnate.

You ain't kidding. California is insane.

[EVT1]

Jun 27, 2011 11:28:07 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Shoot 'em if you got 'em...

7-2 with the odd couple Steven Breyer and John Roberts dissenting...

OVerall-- good decision, IMHO....

Correction- it was Thomas and Breyer

www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf

Lengthy opinion.

[ed1066]

Jun 28, 2011 5:03:20 GMT -5 pappyjohn99 said:

Ignorance incarnate.

You ain't kidding. California is insane.

Damn straight...