Pennsylvania Legislature Looking Into Video Game Violence

Pennsylvania Legislature Looking Into Video Game Violence

July 11, 2007


A Pennsylvania legislator has expanded a state-mandated study into the effects of violent video games on children. 

As reported by the Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA), Rep. Karen Boback (R, left) succeeded in amending a resolution to include other forms of media in addition to games. H.R. 94 was approved last week by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a 196-0 vote.

The resolution authorizes the Joint State Government Commission to begin the study and requires a report back to legislators within 180 days.

GP: It's unclear where the PA legislature hopes to go with this resolution. In some ways Rep. Boback's amendment actually seemss to undercut the authority of the previous version by removing subpoena power from the study group.

Interestingly, Rep. Boback's amendment also acknowledges the constitutional difficulties encountered by video game legislation in other states.
Posted in

Comments

Submitted by Rj - July 16, 2007 at 9:59 am -0500
She looks like she had to many happy pills
Submitted by Pirra - July 13, 2007 at 4:18 pm -0500
Hears how we fix this. Young people… VOTE!!!!!!!!! In the ‘04 presidential election the voter turnout for 18 to 20somthings was ABYSMAL and it’s even WORSE for local elections!!! Start getting active and MAKE YOU’RE VOICE HEARD!!! This goes for all elections from school board to police chef to mayor to governor to congress to president!!! OH MY GOD IT’S THAT EASY SO F#!*$^# DO IT!!!!!!!!

P.S. If any of you are not going to vote in the ‘08 Presidential elections PLEASE just vote for Obama or Nader so you can do SOME good with you apathetic life.
Submitted by P01s0n - July 11, 2007 at 7:07 pm -0500
If This Is The Second Time Through They Are Sure To Find Something Most Likely To There Joy Because They Are Sure To Be More Selective On There Study Groups, Most Likely Using Good Taxpayer Dollars For The Sake Of Picking The More Mentally Fragile And Unstable Or By Simply Putting Emphasis On The Moments Of Frustration All Gamers Occasionally Go Through Where You Just Want To hrow The Controller Into The Wall.
Submitted by Tye the Czar - July 11, 2007 at 5:45 pm -0500
If you don't want them doing this, then just email them, oy.
Submitted by Daniel - July 11, 2007 at 4:54 pm -0500
Oh crap as a Pennsylvanian this makes me sad.
Submitted by MasterAssassin - July 11, 2007 at 4:19 pm -0500
Great we can waste more taxpayer money on a red harring.
Submitted by Robb - July 11, 2007 at 12:04 pm -0500
Don't give this bill more weight than it deserves. The task force is to determine if further study or current assumptions warrant more scrutiny. The most research you can expect is in medical journals and getting professional opinions. No new studies will be funded unless this task force determines the need. Then another bill has to be drafted....
Submitted by Jabrwock - July 11, 2007 at 11:47 am -0500
@Gameboy

"So they are expanding the research to all media?"

Apparently not. While the amendment acknowledges that other media *may* have an equal influence, and also notes that other media has equally voluntary ratings systems (and that violence across the board has increased), the bill *still* only requires them to look into violent video games.
Submitted by Gameboy - July 11, 2007 at 11:08 am -0500
So they are expanding the research to all media? Books, television, and movies are being included? I think I'm gonna have a heart attack. They actually want to do somewhat decent research?

@ GoodRobotUs

I don't think it has a 6 month time frame, but instead has to report its results up to that point. Its kinda stupid to look at the results seriously before the research is done, but they are politicians.
Submitted by Timmay! - July 11, 2007 at 10:59 am -0500
I'm drafting e-mails and snail-mail letters to the legislators in my district about this, but I'm going to hold off on sending them until I see what exactly they're up to.

Paranoia levels rising
Submitted by Archgabe - July 11, 2007 at 10:48 am -0500
Does this lady look hungry to you? I mean, for power or maybe human flesh? She has a crazy look about her. Just saying, why is it that we never get any good looking politicians trying to legislate videogames. I am begining to think that a conspiracy is afoot. We need an expert of this... call you know who!

(Note: I would comment seriously on this but by now I am sick and tired of repeating myself. Not even an attack from Thompson can get me riled up. I am numb. THis attack on videogames is wearing me out.)
Submitted by Jer - July 11, 2007 at 10:45 am -0500
Maybe an off topic but MSN has an interview with Mike Gallagher:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19701434/
Submitted by Citizen_Snips - July 11, 2007 at 10:44 am -0500
Makes me wonder if they weren't finding what they wanted to find....
Submitted by Jabrwock - July 11, 2007 at 9:56 am -0500
"succeeded in amending a resolution to include other forms of media in addition to games"

Well, it's a first step... at least some of them are acknowledging that games are no different than other types of media.

I suspect the push to include things like movies resulted in an equal push by "other media" to remove the subpoena requirements...

Interesting... although "other media" is discussed as a "concern", the committee is still only required to examine the effects of violent games...

I also note that they acknowledge the legislative difficulties with regard to the first amendment, and make note that other bills have been struck down.
Submitted by GoodRobotUs - July 11, 2007 at 9:08 am -0500
I don't mind the investigation, as such, but putting a time limit on it of 6 months is a but dumb, it says to me that they are more interested in getting a quick 'off the cuff' analysis that doesn't go into too much depth.

It's never good when you are rushing things just so that it is you personally who takes the credit, rather than doing it thoroughly in order to ensure the results are accurate.
Submitted by DutchCourage - July 11, 2007 at 9:03 am -0500
Why do people insist on looking into the effects of video game violence. By now it's pretty obvious the effects vary from person to person. Stable and...Not so stable people.
Submitted by stavs - August 9, 2007 at 9:06 am -0500
My Uncle was involved in the campaign of a candidate who ran against her last year and I happen to know for a fact that Karen B will be a 1 term politician. At the polls she called all the blue collar employees of Proctor and Gamble Factory "Mindless Millionaires". (That happens to be the largest employer in her region.) What is the rule for politicians? Always assume you are being taped. She was, and doesn't have a clue! (Too many happy pills). Another campaign now has it and it'll come out right before the next election. This legislation will never get done before she is out and her replacement will not waste his time on such foolishness as this.
Submitted by dave - August 9, 2007 at 8:51 am -0500
Big government nanny state!

GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 11/23/09 at 10:08am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: http://tinyurl.com/ye6x9nv
Posted 11/23/09 at 10:08am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: The very definition of "Lucky Shot":
Posted 11/23/09 at 07:56am
DarkSaber: http://tinyurl.com/yl2vfw6 Here's the link, good for conspiracy theories.
Posted 11/23/09 at 07:42am
JDKJ: Leaders never follow. Followers never lead.
Posted 11/23/09 at 06:48am
DarkSaber: Anyone been following this Hadley Climatic Research Centre server hack story?
Posted 11/22/09 at 11:48pm
ZippyDSMlee: AE:they feeding you well? I am enjoying win7 and heading to bed...uhg I need to get up early and start back to cleaning/painting blahg >< need tog et stuff done befor thanksgiving....
Posted 11/22/09 at 11:41pm
Andrew Eisen: Just got home from an eight hour recording session at Capitol Records. A lot of fun but damn exhausting.
Posted 11/22/09 at 08:44pm
BearDogg-X: 10 N. O. Who Dat?
Posted 11/22/09 at 09:45am
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I think doc phill is still sout about the break up with his wife he dose not fill holes as much as make them bigger these day
Posted 11/22/09 at 12:06am
JDKJ: You should get Phil McCraken to help you spackle those banisters.
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:57pm
ZippyDSMlee: Oh in the pirate hunter article I need my song ieda heckled DS,JD,Beemon sic im !!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:56pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:no I am tried from prepping the banisters for painting , worked on them from 12 to 4 and 6 to 8...after I got back from the store...got up early got ready...blah...been up all day..I need a nap...
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:42pm
JDKJ: No. You gonna stay up late tonight soldering?
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:41pm
ZippyDSMlee: JDKJ:Don't you mean Mctite?
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:33pm
JDKJ: @Zip: Neil, Bob, and Lik McTaint. The McTaint brothers. LOL!!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:44pm
Flamespeak: I still think military personell, killing other military personell, on a military complex should be handled by military courts.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:43pm
Flamespeak: I could see this a mixture of the two charges rather than just one or the other.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:43pm
Flamespeak: I think this was mainly a person who snapped, but evidence is showing he definitely had strong inlinations to islamic-extremism.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:41pm
Flamespeak: People are trying to claim that Hasan's actions were not terrorism. I don't jump on the 'terror train' like others, however
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:38pm
mentor07825: Britain certainly does deserve it! And the French! God damn it, it was a hand ball!!!
Login or register to post shouts