Did you think a day might go by without news of another piece of video game legislation?
Not a chance.
The Deseret Morning News (Utah) reports that Representative Jim Matheson, a Democrat, plans to propose legislation in Congress which would make the sale of an M-rated or AO-rated to minors a federal offense. Matheson's bill, drafted but not yet submitted, is based on ESRB content ratings.
"The industry already has its own rating system. I'm just going to say you have to ID (the buyer) for any 'mature' or 'adult only' rated games."
The proposed legislation will also require that video games have the current rating prominently displayed on the box. (GP: isn't that the case already?)
In discussing the bill with the Morning News, Matheson expressed little confidence in the current retail system.
"You know darn well the 13-year-old is not being carded when he buys 'Grand Theft Auto 2.' You get points (in that game) for having sex with a prostitute; you get points for killing the prostitute." (GP: We're pretty sure he doesn't mean "GTA 2.")
How does Matheson plan to dodge the First Amendment bullet that has already doomed so many pieces of video game legislation?
"I stay away from that unconstitutional aspect." The Congressman told the paper that he believes basing the law on ESRB ratings avoids any government restriction of free speech.