gamepolitics: VGVN Targets Oklahoma

Game Politics (

gamepolitics) wrote,
@ 2006-04-27 14:45:00

Entry tags:

hb3004, legislation, oklahoma, vgvn

VGVN Targets Oklahoma

In its first foray into state-level politics, the ESA-sponsored Video Game Voters Network (VGVN), issued an e-mail "Action Alert" to members at 2:11 P.M. Eastern time today.

The alert is in response to Oklahoma's pending legislation, HB3004. GamePolitics broke the news earlier this week that the Oklahoma State Senate had passed the measure unanimously. It appears to be on its way to the desk of Gov. Brad Henry for signature. Should Gov. Henry sign it, HB3004 will become law on November 1st.

The VGVN alert calls upon gamers to contact anyone they know who might live in Oklahoma to speak out against the bill. The message reads, in part:

"The effect of legislation seeking to regulate games would stifle constitutionally-protected creativity in a medium that is at the cutting-edge of innovative entertainment. This is why we need your help. Although you don't live in Oklahoma, you may know someone who does! Please spread the word about the VGVN and this legislation to anyone in your family, clan, MMORPG, forum or work who lives in Oklahoma."

This may be the first time gaming clans and MMO's have been used for political purposes. It will be interesting to see the results.

(Read 240 comments) - (Post a new comment)

GAMERS...

esrbwillbegone
2006-04-27 10:07 pm UTC (link)

Teens Charged in Attack at Texas Party
Apr 27 1:32 PM US/Eastern
Email this story

SPRING, Texas

Two white teenagers severely beat and sodomized a 16-year-old Hispanic boy who they believed had tried to kiss a 12-year-old white girl at a party, authorities said.

The attackers forced the boy out of the Saturday night house party, beat him and sodomized him with a metal pipe, shouting epithets "associated with being Hispanic," said Lt. John Martin with the Harris County Sheriff's Department.

They then poured bleach over the boy, apparently to destroy DNA evidence and left him for dead, authorities said. He wasn't discovered until Sunday, 12 hours after the attack.

The victim, who was not identified, suffered severe internal injuries and remained in critical condition Thursday.

"It's more than likely the boy won't live," Harris County prosecutor Mike Trent said.

Keith Robert Turner, 17, and David Henry Tuck, 18, are charged with aggravated sexual assault, investigators said. Prosecutors are considering whether to attach hate-crime charges, but unless the victim dies, the possible penalty would be the same. If the boy dies and it is ruled a hate crime, Tuck could face the death penalty, authorities said. Turner would be too young to face execution.

The case has been turned over to the homicide division, Martin said, normal procedure in severe assault cases.

Authorities set bond at $100,000 for Turner. Tuck's bond was initially set at $20,000, but it was revoked Thursday. He was being held in the Harris County Jail.

Spring is a middle-class, largely white suburb of 36,000 residents, located about 10 miles north of the Houston city line.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	That is horrific... timbickley 2006-04-27 10:09 pm UTC (link)
	and clearly racially motivated - why are you bringing it up here? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: That is horrific... brendanthejedi 2006-04-27 10:29 pm UTC (link)
	Because clearly it involves Video Games. Seriously, though, it is horrific. It sucks that people are evil enought to such things. But then there are the people who take secret pleasure from such matters, which make them more evil than the commiters of act themselves. People like Jack Thompson. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... ianc14 2006-04-27 10:10 pm UTC (link)
	I see no games connection Jack? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: GAMERS... jargon_john 2006-04-27 10:44 pm UTC (link)
	He's losing his touch (as if he ever had one...). Everything and anything he reads has videogames written all over it. It haunts him to the point where he can't tell what's videogame related and not! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... yzzerdd 2006-04-27 10:15 pm UTC (link)
	Oh holy fucking shit. Jack save your self the trouble and shut the hell up. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... jaykaos 2006-04-27 10:16 pm UTC (link)
	...So? Yes, it's horrible. It's also very, very racist. You know, suddenly I recall some game lately...you played as a black guy, and one of the main things you were fighting was corrupt racists. I can't seem to recall the name of that game offhand, now... Oh wait. It was GTA: San Andreas. (Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: GAMERS...

goodrobotus
2006-04-27 10:18 pm UTC (link)

Are you trying to imply that this is usual behaviour for gamers Jack?

If so, you are far far more sick and depraved than I could have thought...

Maybe we should all play a nice healthy game of Lacrosse, after all, healthy sports players never perform heinous sex crimes do they?

This is the very lowest I've seen you sink Jack, and I've seen you sink very low indeed.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: GAMERS... samsoneffect 2006-04-27 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	"Maybe we should all play a nice healthy game of Lacrosse, after all, healthy sports players never perform heinous sex crimes do they?" Not unless you go to Duke...* * Not trying to offend anyone who happens to go to Duke. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: GAMERS... -

goodrobotus, 2006-04-27 10:47 pm UTC

	So? lowe0 2006-04-27 10:20 pm UTC (link)
	It's a shitty world. Stuff like this happens. Doesn't mean that it's caused by a video game, even if it's done by a group (16-24 year olds) whose members typically enjoy them. I'm simply not seeing any association between this and video games. Perhaps you should state your argument? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Again Jack brendanthejedi 2006-04-27 10:23 pm UTC (link)
	What the fuck does this have to do with video games? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	What's your point? enmitywithin 2006-04-27 10:37 pm UTC (link)
	the article says NOTHING about videogames dimwit. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... bayushisan 2006-04-27 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	And the fact that you're probably going to insert yourself into the investigation in some lame duck attempt at gaining a legacy for yourself is even more sickening. You sir are indeed a Pharisee of the worst kind. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... nsbustin 2006-04-27 10:43 pm UTC (link)
	this was clearly an act of racism and how no video game infulence. i am greatly offended by your actions, expect a stronly worded letter to your bar about this continued harrassment (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... anticron 2006-04-27 10:58 pm UTC (link)
	You do know that immigration is an incredibly hot topic this year, right? Please tell me you're not so delusional as to have missed this. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	De-spininification! Engage! jabrwock 2006-04-27 11:02 pm UTC (link)
	http://jabrwock.livejournal.com/5996.html (Reply to this) (Parent)

Same story, different coverage

andrew_eisen
2006-04-27 11:03 pm UTC (link)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042806dntexspring.123faf2b.html

Investigators said no adults were supervising the party, where they found evidence of marijuana and Xanax use.

Denholm said investigators believe the attack was prompted by the age difference between the 12-year-old girl and the 16-year-old victim, who the two defendants thought tried to kiss the girl.

"The two suspects were being mean and vicious and looking for any excuse to stomp somebody," he said.

Turner and Tuck are charged with aggravated sexual assault, investigators said. Prosecutors are considering whether to attach hate-crime charges, but unless the victim dies, the possible penalty would be the same.

"Whether it is one or isn't a hate crime, and it may be, that will make no difference here," Trent said. "This is already a first-degree felony and it can't be elevated any higher. There's nowhere to go beyond this, unless the victim dies."

No mention of video games.

Andrew Eisen

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: GAMERS... ace_ofspade 2006-04-28 12:02 am UTC (link)
	Why didn't you feel the need to clip on some "violent-gamer-proof" (Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: GAMERS...

illspirit
2006-04-28 12:05 am UTC (link)

Seeing how you like going after media which inspires school shootings, and you also hate gangsta rap, well, I've got a lovely new target for you:

Sometime last year, a thug rapper by the name of Ill Bill (no relation) put out a song titled The Anatomy of a School Shooting. As you could probably guess, the song glorifies Columbine ('tis even written from Eric Harris' perspective), and, well, to be frank, it almost makes it sound fun. There's more where this came from, to be sure. However this example is just too perfect. Part of the lyrics can be read here.

So, yea, here's my challenge. If you're really out to stop all media which promotes this type of behavior, and not just after games for a quick buck. Prove it. Put your money where your mouth is (after taking your foot out, naturally), and try to sue Bill and Necro. If you don't, I'll take this as admission that you don't care one bit about the kids, that you're only chasing ambulances, and generally just whoring yourself out for the media spotlight.

Then of course there's the whole violation of our equal protection rights provided by the Fourteenth Amendment thing. If you can sue the Florida Bar for violating your civil rights in regards to the First Amendment, what's to stop certain game publishers-- or even everyday Pixelantes --from suing you for violating out civil right to indemnity from selective persecution and prosecution?

I might also suggest you make a decision quick, because I have, well, let's just call it a hunch, that things are about to get really interesting. Ball's in your court...

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	^^^^^ LAST POST IN THREAD ^^^^^ sigma_7 2006-04-28 01:02 am UTC (link)
	By the time you read this message, everything in this thread has already been discussed. There is no need to keep posting. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	^^ JUST MESSING WITH THAT GUY jaykaos 2006-04-28 02:58 am UTC (link)
	Title says it all, really. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	^^^ HELP!!! i'M BEING CRUSHED TO DEATH UNDER THESE POSTS!!! ^^^ dustin1986 2006-04-28 04:40 am UTC (link)
	AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	A last thread is me! boffo97 2006-04-28 04:54 am UTC (link)
	I blame ambulance chasing lawyers for this. Turn yourself in now, Jack. Or just commit ritual suicide. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	The true way to end a thread. arjei 2006-04-28 07:14 am UTC (link)
	Just divide by 0. ... OH SHI- (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Jack? sundaos 2006-04-28 04:05 pm UTC (link)
	What is the relevence of your story to the current topic? Cuz I see nothing here at all, this is a hate crime pure and simple. Hate crimes an the KKK have been on the rise since 9/11 and we can thank Mr. Bush for all of this. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read 240 comments) - (Post a new comment)

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