This Week in Games Legislation and Accusation

Various events transpired this week in the world of politicians and other public figures getting angry about video games. There were several pieces of failed legislation and a few shaky proposals. Here's a recap: - After passing a 7-2 committee vote and a 56-8 vote in the Utah House of Representatives, the bill equating games with pornography proposed by Rep. David Hogue (R-UT) was essentially blocked by the state senate when senators did not even vote on the legislation. - Rep. Fred Morgan (R-OK) has proposed legislation that may be attempting to ban specific depictions of violence in games, modeled after a similar Illinois bill. In December, Morgan publically declared his admiration for Illinois' approach, noting that "I understand there are free speech concerns anytime you restrict any form of expression, but I believe the proposed law will pass the constitutional test." Here's the kicker: Morgan published that editorial only a few days after a federal judge declared Illinois' legislation unconstitutional. - British MP Keith Vaz, who has spoken out in the past about Rockstar's particularly violent Manhunt (PS2, Xbox, PC), is currently attempting to get more prominent ratings labels on game packaging in the UK. Gamasutra reports that Vaz's proposed legislation stands little chance of passing, especially considering labels in the UK were already recently enlarged. - A short blurb in the Des Moines Register reveals that attempted legislation by Rep. Janet Petersen (D-IA), which would have banned the sale of video games (and sex toys) to children, failed to meet the deadline to pass. The House Public Safety Committee chairman wanted to pass the bills, but "there is some First Amendment issues." Well, fancy that. Thanks Game Politics. - Senator Dale Volker (R-NY) launched a public boycott of the "cop killing video game," Avalanche's 25 to Life, accusing it of promoting "indecency and...violence." In so doing, Senator Volker contributed to the ongoing free publicity for a title that even Bill Gardner, CEO of the game's publisher Eidos, admitted "wasn't that good."