Sunday Editorial Roundup

Making the rounds of today's editorials, GP finds two items certain to be of interest to readers.

First stop is the Wichita Eagle, where Opinion Editor Phillip Brownlee gives kudos to Kansas' Republican Senator Sam Brownback for encouraging state legislatures to pass video game restrictions. Brownlee also questions why a bill proposed by Democratic State Rep. Jim Ward hasn't progressed. Brownlee concludes:

"In the end, of course, it's up to parents to act like parents and not let their children play inappropriate video games. And, no, playing a violent video game doesn't mean that a teen will go on a shooting rampage. But it is reasonable and responsible to expect that games rated for adults only are sold only to adults."

Next, Minnesota State Rep. Jeff Johnson, (R - pictured at left), chairman of the House Civil Law Committee, pens an op-ed for the Minneapolis-St. Paul StarTribune in support of video game legislation which he has proposed.

Johnson, who testified before Sen. Brownback's U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on video games last month, is the sponsor of HF1298, a bill which would assess $25 fines against under-17's who attempt to buy M-rated games.

Johnson writes, "My intent is not to make criminals out of kids or to make money for the state $25 at a time. But I hope the new law will catch the attention of at least a few of the painfully oblivious parents in our state who are paying absolutely no attention to some of the garbage their little kids are playing on their video game machines."

Johnson enumerates several games that concern him, including usual suspects GTA, Postal and Manhunt. Oddly enough, he includes Clock Tower 3, a so-so 2003 survival-horror game in his list. GP doubts the game gets played much by anyone these days, much less the under-17 crowd, but Johnson must have come across it somewhere. He also mentioned Clock Tower 3 in his testimony before the Brownback subcommittee.