The simulated violence on some video games goes beyond shock value. It transcends even the most violent of movies. But it's a legal product and is what the market will bear.
Oklahoma children will have to find an adult to buy ultra-violent games for them, thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Brad Henry this week. House Bill 3004 restricts the sale of games with inappropriate or gratuitous violence to minors.
Authors were state Rep. Fred Morgan, D-Oklahoma City, and state Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.
Retailers who peddle the material need to know what is and what is not permissible. We've heard from a few who say they risk their business' future every time a youngster buys such a game.
"While parents have the ultimate responsibilty for what their children do and see, this legislation is another tool to ensure that our young people are not saturated in violence," Gov. Henry said in a release this week. "This gives parents the power to more closely regulate which games their children play."
Studies show children and teens can easily become desensitized to such violence. They are already excluded from going to or renting violent and sexually explicit movies. It makes sense to keep the video games in the same category.
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