I don’t know if you have heard of the California law that banned sales of violent video games to minors in the state. As things stood before, minors were not allowed to purchase these games for themselves. Of course, that is not to say that if someone 18 and above were to buy the games and then give them to a 13-year-old, it would be disallowed. From the get go, that rationale is already flawed, right?
Anyhow, this law has been reversed by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, saying that it goes against the Constitution. Digital Trends has this report:
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled a California law restricting the rental of violent and mature video games to minors is unconstitutional, saying the law is too restrictive and violates guarantees of free speech under the first amendment of the U.S. constitution. The unanimous opinion from the court’s three-judge panel also found California’s labeling requirement unfairly compelled video game developers to carry “the State’s controversial opinion” and violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
While California gamers – minors and those of legal age alike – may be rejoicing right now, I have to point out that this is by no means the end of the road. As we all know, the legal process is long and tedious. In fact, since the ruling was made by the court of appeals, the case can be brought to higher courts like say, the Supreme Court. And this is exactly what backers of the law are trying to do. I say leave it alone. What do you think?