As you may have read recently, there is a push to enact a ban on the sale of violent video games to children. What you may not realize is that the video game industry has a rating system in use that is more comprehensive than any other major media, or that it is better enforced by retailers (according to a Federal Trade Commission secret shopper survey in 2008).
Every major retailer has a policy against selling mature-rated games to children, policies that they are enforcing. Believe it or not, more children ages 15-17 are able to buy cigarettes than mature-rated video games. You also might not realize that video game players are not who they used to be; the average age of video game players is 33 years old and has been rising. Children comprise less than 25 percent of players.
Considering these facts, is a legal ban on video game sales necessary? Will it be effective, or will government intervention undermine the successful efforts within the industry so far? This is not even considering whether such a ban would be a violation of constitutional rights, which is the main concern of Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and officials from other states who have expressed concern about it.
I have no doubt that everyone's heart is in the right place, but I fear such a law, at best, would accomplish nothing we hope for. At worst, it could be unconstitutional and potentially even hurt efforts that are already working.
Joe Naylor
Bountiful