Where are the parents at?

Thank God for sanity in...Utah? Governor John Huntsman vetoed a bill that would have imposed stiff fines on stores and movie theaters that allowed minors access to violent games/films. Huntsman said that, since the rating systems for both are voluntary, the industries would simply drop their warning system altogether to avoid being liable under this statute.

Now, let me first say that I don't think it's good for young children to be exposed to graphic violence or sexual content, whether it be in games or movies. This bill, though, is just more bullshit from lunatic (disbarred) lawyer Jack Thompson, whose hatred for video games is practically legend. The rating system that is currently in place is already effective. Hell, I get carded at theaters and in Best Buy when my five o'clock shadow looks more like midnight. There are already laws in place that prevent this type of behavior, so why do we need more legislation? Oh, right, because Jack Thompson is a preening asshole who needs to have his face on tv.

This is just one battle in the greater war against the video game industry by so-called "activists", whose moral indignation doesn't seem to extend past Grand Theft Auto or Doom. These people are more concerned that a minor might buy Halo at WalMart than about that same minor buying a gun at WalMart. The disconnect is truly staggering. Let's not forget, of course, that there are no legitimate studies that show direct and causal links between violent video games/movies and violent real life behavior. The fact that games in particular are used as scapegoats when mass murders are committed is both disgusting and disingenuous, with the "moral majority" playing on tragedy to further their own political ends.

I have always felt that the rating systems for both games and movies are both effective. Much of my childhood was spent trying to sneak in to R-Rated movies and convincing my parents that Doom was an educational exercise on the killing of hell demons. Of course, my parents also understood my maturity level and screened the games and movies I watched. And, let's be honest, that is where the impetus for change truly lies. Kids are going to get around laws designed to keep them from having fun. In the end, it is up to parents and guardians to determine what is best for their children and to play an active role in their lives. And, if they can't, do we really expect that stiffer fines for retailers are gonna do the trick?

What this really is, of course, is an assault on the entertainment industry. Now, let's be clear, an assault may be necessary. Much of what Hollywood and EA produces is complete crap that shouldn't be viewed by anyone, much less impressionable children. But to demonize video games as entertainment and an art form is the ultimate goal of Jack Thompson and his ilk. He is using children as an avenue for deciding what adults can and cannot do in their spare time and utilizing bullshit (at best) research to claim that video games are "murder simulators". So, bravo Utah. You showed Jack Thompson what's what (not that it's that hard to do). Mormonism has never looked so good.