Parental Responsibility, not More Laws

Yee’s video game ban is unnecessary and harmful

Assemblyman Yee proposes to extend the definition of “harmful matter” (CA Penal Code §313) to include violent video games, to prevent their sale to minors. This proposal will not serve its intended purpose, and will have undesirable consequences.

• The Entertainment Software Rating Board (esrb.org) has a voluntary rating system similar to the MPAA rating system, only more detailed. All responsible software vendors abide by the ESRB guidelines. Legislative intervention is uncalled for.

• Harmful matter is currently defined only in terms of prurient interest and sexual content. Extending the definition to include violence will have unintended consequences for movies (including PG and PG-13 films) and books.

• Parents and guardians are ultimately responsible for their children’s entertainment consumption. Nanny-state laws like this proposal only encourage further abdication of responsibility, an already-pervasive problem in our society.

• Children are strikingly innovative when there is something illicit they want. If parents have not succeeded in advising their children about what is and is not appropriate, a law will not stop them from using an older friend, sibling, or cousin to get the product. Indeed, the allure of the black market may add to the outlawed product’s charm.

• Some children in every generation are violent. Blaming the latest fad is a way for legislators to feel that they are Doing Something About the Problem, whether it’s demon rum, jazz, comic books, rock & roll, Dungeons & Dragons, rap, or video games.