Taking action against violence
Video games rated Mature (M) by the gaming industry's Entertainment Software Ratings Board often feature horrific violence. A top selling video game for teens and preteens is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, in which players can choose to have sex with a prostitute and then kill her. In Gears of War, another top-selling M-rated game, players' main weapon is a machine gun that is also equipped with a chain saw which is used to kill enemies at close range. In the M-rated Manhunt 2, players can saw open the stomach of an enemy who is lying, awake, chained to a table. Despite research showing the harmful effects of violent video games on youth, M-rated games are routinely sold to children under seventeen.
But that could change here in Massachusetts. House Bill 1423, "An Act To Restrict The Sale Of Video Games With Violent Content To Minors," is currently under consideration by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Please take a moment to email your representatives and the Committee and urge them to support this important legislation. http://salsa.democracyinaction .org/o/621/t/5401/campaign.jsp ?campaign_KEY=23855
At the 2006 Summit on Video Games, Youth and Public Policy, leading academic, medical and health experts issued a statement saying: "Behavioral science research demonstrates that playing violent video games can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior in children and youth." The most recent studies employing state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques support the behavioral research. There is evidence that violent video games can engender more aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and decrease empathetic, helpful behaviors with peers.
In spite of the fact that a Mature-rating means that a game is unsuitable for those under the age of seventeen, M-rated games are extremely popular with children. A survey by The National Institute on Media and the Family found that seven out of ten 4th through 12th grade students report that they play M-rated video games and nearly half of boys list an M-rated game as their favorite. A 2007 report by the Federal Trade Commission found that 42% of unaccompanied 13- to 16-year-olds were able to purchase M-rated games.
Please tell your representatives that video games featuring horrific violence should not be sold directly to children and forward this email to five friends or family members in Massachusetts. http://salsa.democracyinaction .org/o/621/t/5401/campaign.jsp ?campaign_KEY=23855
But that could change here in Massachusetts. House Bill 1423, "An Act To Restrict The Sale Of Video Games With Violent Content To Minors," is currently under consideration by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Please take a moment to email your representatives and the Committee and urge them to support this important legislation. http://salsa.democracyinaction .org/o/621/t/5401/campaign.jsp ?campaign_KEY=23855
At the 2006 Summit on Video Games, Youth and Public Policy, leading academic, medical and health experts issued a statement saying: "Behavioral science research demonstrates that playing violent video games can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior in children and youth." The most recent studies employing state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques support the behavioral research. There is evidence that violent video games can engender more aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and decrease empathetic, helpful behaviors with peers.
In spite of the fact that a Mature-rating means that a game is unsuitable for those under the age of seventeen, M-rated games are extremely popular with children. A survey by The National Institute on Media and the Family found that seven out of ten 4th through 12th grade students report that they play M-rated video games and nearly half of boys list an M-rated game as their favorite. A 2007 report by the Federal Trade Commission found that 42% of unaccompanied 13- to 16-year-olds were able to purchase M-rated games.
Please tell your representatives that video games featuring horrific violence should not be sold directly to children and forward this email to five friends or family members in Massachusetts. http://salsa.democracyinaction .org/o/621/t/5401/campaign.jsp ?campaign_KEY=23855
Added on March 27, 2008 by formasspta
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