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New bill proposed to make game makers liable for crimes commited by younger players
Legistlators in Washington State are proposing a new bill that would be yet another in the "think of the children" style laws. The new proposed law would make game makers liable for damages if any minors (17 and under, according to the bill) were to commit any crimes "due in any part to playing video games."
Supporters of the bill, such as Bill Hanson of the Washington Police and Sheriff's Association, feel that when "kids" get the violent games, they become desensitized to violence.
"If you sit up and watch this and play these games over and over again... it seems that this is alright to walk up and hit a police officer over the head with a bat," Hanson said.
Opponents argue that the proposed bill would shift the responsibility from the person who actually committed the crime.
Lew McMurran, with the Washington Software Association, says violent games are clearly rated for adults only; and he argues that it is the responsibility of the parents to decide what is appropriate for their children, not the responsibility of the state's government. McMurran also argues that this proposed bill would also shift the blame for any crimes away from the actual purpetrator, and onto the makers of software.
"We're removing the responsibility from the person who committed the act, to somebody else who's completely removed from the situation" McMurran said. "There's a very strong video game industry in this state that we want to support. We don't want to bring undo attention to an area where there's actually jobs being created, where there's actually some good economic development in our state"
Source: KOMO 4 News
Supporters of the bill, such as Bill Hanson of the Washington Police and Sheriff's Association, feel that when "kids" get the violent games, they become desensitized to violence.
"If you sit up and watch this and play these games over and over again... it seems that this is alright to walk up and hit a police officer over the head with a bat," Hanson said.
Opponents argue that the proposed bill would shift the responsibility from the person who actually committed the crime.
Lew McMurran, with the Washington Software Association, says violent games are clearly rated for adults only; and he argues that it is the responsibility of the parents to decide what is appropriate for their children, not the responsibility of the state's government. McMurran also argues that this proposed bill would also shift the blame for any crimes away from the actual purpetrator, and onto the makers of software.
"We're removing the responsibility from the person who committed the act, to somebody else who's completely removed from the situation" McMurran said. "There's a very strong video game industry in this state that we want to support. We don't want to bring undo attention to an area where there's actually jobs being created, where there's actually some good economic development in our state"
Source: KOMO 4 News