ACLU against game regulation bill in Connecticut

A lawyer representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut has opposed a video game regulation bill that would restrict access to certain games in the state.

As reported by the Hartford Courant, ACLU lawyer David McGuire voiced his opposition for the bill during a public hearing this week, citing the landmark 2011 Supreme Court decision as precedent.

He argued that there is no causal link between violent games and real-world violence and that games are protected free speech, similar to movies and books.

The proposed bill would restrict those under 18 in Connecticut from playing point-and-shoot games in public spaces, such as arcades and movie theaters. The legislation would also create a task force to examine the effects of violent games on those who play them.

McGuire was met with opposition during the hearing. State representative Whit Betts (R-Bristol) said the Supreme Court's decision was misguided. "I know what the law says, but to me, it lacks common sense," he said.

Video games have been a much-discussed topic for lawmakers since the December 14 schoolhouse massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 20 children and six adults dead.

A recent Harris Poll found that 58 percent of American adults believe video games contribute to real-world violence. On top of that, former Federal Bureau of Investigation profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole said recently that violent video games do not cause violence.

Parents Television Council president Tim Winter agreed that video games do not--by themselves--cause violence. However, he argued the topic is especially important to address today, when media has become a 24/7 activity for children.

President Obama recently announced a $500 million, 23-point plan that directs the Centers for Disease Control to conduct further research into the relationship between virtual violence and real-world violence. Separately, Utah representative Jim Matheson has introduced a bill to Congress that would make Entertainment Software Rating Board ratings legally enforceable.