Editorial Roundup: Oklahoma Paper Slams New Video Game Law

"It won't work."

So says the editorial board of the Muskogee Phoenix about Oklahoma's new video game statute.

As reported on GamePolitics, Gov. Brad Henry signed HB3004 into law earlier this month. The video game industry filed suit against the Oklahoma bill on Friday, just two days after the Phoenix ripped the measure, saying, "Oklahoma's new law that prevents the sale of violent video games and material to minors is an example of the state trying to micromanage morality, not violence."

"It won't work," the Phoenix continued, "and it doesn't address the problems we have with violent behavior in the United States. It's simply another law that police will have to enforce without offering additional resources to law enforcement to do the job."

"...responsibility must begin in the home... Some things are definitely inappropriate for children and harmful to them, and society has a duty to protect young people. But if it's wrong for minors to view a game that 'depicts lead characters who resort to violence freely' - as the new law states video games do - then minors shouldn't be watching Indiana Jones and a host other characters who freely and gratuitously indulge in violence."

It's not the first time the Muskogee Phoenix has weighed in against video game legislation in the Sooner State. GP's December article "Muskogee Editors Side with ESA on Game Legislation" chronicled a war of words between video game bill sponsor Rep. Fred Morgan (R) and ESA President Doug Lowenstein.

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