Legislation must be stricter

Published 12:00 am Monday, May 12, 2003

As the Senate celebrates the passage of a measure that makes it illegal for children under 17 to rent of buy violent video games, there is more to the dilemma than a piece of quick-fix legislation.

The proposed law applies to games rated M for Mature audiences or AO for Adults Only under the industry's own rating system. The effort would make it a petty misdemeanor -- with a maximum $25 fine -- for children to rent or buy the games. Though it would remain legal for stores to rent or sell them. And that's the problem.

It's completely contrary to how the state regulates tobacco products. In those cases retailers face stiff penalties if caught selling to underage smokers.

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In other words this new law punishes the children who buy the games, but not the people who supply them. Retailers simply have to post warning signs to keep their end of the bargain.

In essence, lawmakers are setting the video game law up for failure.

The law needs to go further to be effective at all.