It’s not over folks, California Senator Leland Yee has responded to today’s Supreme Court ruling that side with the video games industry, in the EMA (Entertainment Merchants Association) vs Brown case that ran for more than six year.
“Unfortunately, the majority of the Supreme Court once again put the interests of corporate America before the interests of our children,” he said in a a press release posted on his website.
“As a result of their decision, Wal-Mart and the video game industry will continue to make billions of dollars at the expense of our kids’ mental health and the safety of our community. It is simply wrong that the video game industry can be allowed to put their profit margins over the rights of parents and the well-being of children.”
“While we did not win today, I am certain that this eight year legislative and legal battle has raised the consciousness of this issue for many parents and grandparents, and has forced the video game industry to do a better job at appropriately rating these games,” he added.
The entire industry’s jubilant though, with multiple executives sharing their thoughts on the ruling.
“This is a historic and complete win for the First Amendment and the creative freedom of artists and storytellers everywhere. Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what we have always known – that free speech protections apply every bit as much to video games as they do to other forms of creative expression like books, movies and music,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the Electronic Software Association.
“The Court declared forcefully that content-based restrictions on games are unconstitutional; and that parents, not government bureaucrats, have the right to decide what is appropriate for their children.”
Said John Riccitiello, CEO Electronic Arts:
“Everybody wins on this decision – the Court has affirmed the Constitutional rights of game developers; adults keep the right to decide what’s appropriate in their houses; and store owners can sell games without fear of criminal prosecution.”
oh please!
anyone who cries wont someone think of the children, should be banned from parenting!
get of your fat a$$, and parent your kids, instead of forcing the government to do it for ya!
for crying out loud!
Agreed.
a family friend of ours is like that, drives me freaking insane!
got 2 kids son whos 17 and a daughter whos 8.
neither are allowed to watch or play anything rated above G.
no, seriously!
there parents wont even let them watch the simpsons for crying out loud!
amazing what religion can do to people.
its funny, the guy i use to work with told me one day religions the work of the devil.
thought he was mad!
though now after seeing these guys hes kinda got a point.
Trust me…violent video games is NOT the problem. The biggest problem today’s kids face are bad parents and a society that is royally screwed up. Do not get me wrong, there are some kids (very small percent) that should not be exposed to ANY violent forms of media but these individuals are not balanced and unstable because of negative influences in their day to day lives…not because of the movies they watch or the games they play.