Game Politics ([info]gamepolitics) wrote,
@ 2006-07-06 06:03:00
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Entry tags:hb1381, jack thompson, legislation, louisiana, mike michot

Louisiana Pols Lining Up to Voice Support for Jack Thompson Video Game Law

For a law that seems very likely to be enjoined by a Federal judge, perhaps as early as this week, Louisiana's new video game statute has some powerful - and vocal - supporters.

As recently reported by GamePolitics, Louisiana's Attorney General Charles Foti has vowed to appeal the state's video game law to the U.S. Supreme Court should it be overturned on constitutional grounds by Federal District Court Judge James Brady.

Now comes word that State Senator Mike Michot (R) wants to see another video game bill in next year's session should the current law be struck down.

Speaking to Louisiana's KATC-3, Michot said, "The last thing we need is some video game promoting violent and illegal behavior. I understand where they (the video game industry) are coming from. They feel like we are trying to stop the sale of these videos and in fact we are."

"Now if this is overturned," Michot continued, "I think you'll see the legislature address it again in the next session. We can't legislate morality but certainly we can stop these games from being sold in Louisiana, getting into the hands of our children. It's the least we could do."

Want to talk about it? You can discuss this story via the "comments" feature (click below), or in the new GamePolitics Forums...


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And the idiots keep lining up to be de elected
[info]yukimurasanada
2006-07-06 10:55 am UTC (link)
Aparently Mick Michot never learned to read, or do research for that matter. When, not if, but when Jacks Law dies, and it will die, jacks very involvment in it sealed that fate, does this imbecile really think that anyone else would have better luck? States have tried every single trick in the book so far, and when thompsons bill fails, then they would have all failed.

SO,exactly what does this moron think he's gonna do to make a new one stick?

Time these imbeciles learned. You can't beat the First Amendment! It's a waste of time and money to try. If I were the populace of LA, I'd be furious that idiots like this were wasting money on unconstitutional games laws instead of rebuilding the damn state.

More proof that by electing geezers to posistions of power, we get out of touch leaders who are serving there own needs and not the states, or the countries for that matter.

Cue insipid Jack thompson press release in 5,4,3,2,1.

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[info]woundwalker
2006-07-06 11:15 am UTC (link)
'but certainly we can stop these games from being sold in Louisiana'

No, you can't. Does a state senator really not understand the 1st amendment?

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[info]brainswarm
2006-07-06 02:43 pm UTC (link)
Actually, that sounds like he wants to ban them completely. Which has even less chance of passing the courts than banning their sale to minors.

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[info]goodrobotus
2006-07-06 11:36 am UTC (link)
Another man who hasn't got the faintest idea of what the world around them contains.

How do they get voted in?

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[info]beardoggx
2006-07-06 11:40 am UTC (link)
Well, Louisiana is known for crooked politicians.

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Won't happen
[info]beardoggx
2006-07-06 11:43 am UTC (link)
Unless they changed the rules, next year's session will only deal with fiscal issues. And this bullshit has nothing to do with finances.

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[info]anticron
2006-07-06 12:43 pm UTC (link)
"We can't legislate morality but certainly we can stop these games from being sold in Louisiana, getting into the hands of our children."

Uh. That's precisely what you're doing.

Do politicians in LA have a requirement to pass high school?

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What do these guys smoke?!
[info]trenthowell
2006-07-06 02:25 pm UTC (link)
cause honestly, i want some of it if it allows me to think like them, cause i dont understand these guys worth a damn

"We can't legislate morality but certainly we can stop these games from being sold in Louisiana, getting into the hands of our children. It's the least we could do."


sounds like your still trying to legislate morality with that comment hypocrite.

Rough Translation:
We wont tell you what you can and cant buy, but we must not allow these kids to play these kinds of game. So we're going to try and ban them anyway.
end translation

now my point is, if a kid is taught any morals in life (or common sense for that matter) then they know that your not supposed to repeat certain things in real life that you see on a game. I also ABSOLUTELY LOVE the fact that all these politicians are ignoring an FBI chart of overall crime rates of minors as it has shown to have been going down and its at its lowest point in years. Whats even better is that it can be marked up to match the release dates of GTA games. It goes down when a GTA game comes out, not up like they make it out to be. Has anyone ever thought that maybe these "violent games" are keeping real life violence in a virtual world rather than in the real world?

These guys get in office cause the average voter doesn't research a thing on their canidates, the politician will handfeed the average voter whatever bs they want to be fed and the voter will happily accept not even caring to research and find out what they are being fed. I bet alot of politicians bank on this fact that very few research possible office runners. I also hate it when people don't even know whos running in an election, but will vote for a candidate just cause their are in their polictical party (ZOMG HE'S DEMOCRAT/REPUBLICAN I HAVE TO VOTE FOR HIM!!!)



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Re: What do these guys smoke?!
[info]slyfoxx
2006-07-06 06:07 pm UTC (link)
You, sir, have hit the nail right on the head and I agree with wholeheartedly. That's exactly what's happening and often seems to happen on most issues.

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[info]ianc14
2006-07-06 02:47 pm UTC (link)
They feel like we are trying to stop the sale of these videos and in fact we are."
Sheesh, talk about stating the obvious (tho he said the wrong thing, as usual)

It's the least we could do.
No, the least you could do is work WITH the ERSB on educating parents about games. Simple.

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legislate morality? bleh
[info]enmitywithin
2006-07-06 02:55 pm UTC (link)
"The last thing we need is some video game promoting violent and illegal behavior. I understand where they (the video game industry) are coming from. They feel like we are trying to stop the sale of these videos and in fact we are."

yes, you don't need violent behaviour, too bad games don't promote it. The only game I've ever seen promoting physical activity besides ddr is at the end of one of the tony hawks games where they show a video and then say "now go outside and skate!" not to mention that this isn't about promoting violence and such behaviour. this is about freedom of speech and the freedom of a 17-yeah old. being 18 for only half a year I remember being able to get M-rated games last year, best feeling ever.


"Now if this is overturned," Michot continued, "I think you'll see the legislature address it again in the next session. We can't legislate morality but certainly we can stop these games from being sold in Louisiana, getting into the hands of our children. It's the least we could do."
your words and stupidity hurt my brain. Legislating morality would be the exact opposite of this bill silly. and the LEAST you could do is actual PARENTING. and yes, we'll see it in the legislature, but the precedent shall come and lo, it shall be ended there

it kills me to see this kind of thing happening. because these senators seem to think that if they try hard enough, they could make bigotry legal. Sadly it's a mistake.

Cool thing about the constitution and constitutionality = it doesn't matter what you think. Unless a constitutional amendment is made, this bill is unconstitutional.

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Its unconstitutinal
[info]psuedodragon
2006-07-06 04:41 pm UTC (link)
If they try to pass another law it too will be struck down as being unconstitutional, and more of the tax dollars of the citizens of the state of Louisiana will be wasted. Now what really needs to happen when this law is permanently struck down is the judge needs to say that the state of Louisiana is not to attempt to try to pass this law or any similar law again or the state legislators will be found in contempt of court and have a fitting sentence imposed on them or the entire 'state' as it were.

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[info]automancer
2006-07-06 06:21 pm UTC (link)
Wow, some of the politicians in Louisina don't seem very bright. Honestly, do they even know about the first amendment? The amendment deals with things that aren't obscene and obscenity only deals with sex. It has been this way for a long time and it was made this way for a reason. I'm starting to feel like those of us here are the only ones that understand that.

-Auto

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Isn't Censorship supposed to be a BAD thing?
[info]dustin1986
2006-07-06 09:35 pm UTC (link)
Oh boy, what can I say? Hearing things like this is troubling, I can definitely say that.
c
Why does Senator Mike Michot feel so strongly about keeping these games out of Louisiana? It's because he thinks that video games are only for children. If you look at it that way, then his arguments make more sense. Imagine that Mattel came out with Crack-whore Barbie and they say that it's intended for adults. I wouldn't believe that, and that's how supporter's of this bill feel about video games. They might admit that some adults play videogames, but they think this only applies to college students who won't grow up. Not REAL adults.

Let's look at one of Mike Michot's quotes here:
"The last thing we need is some video game promoting violent and illegal behavior. I understand where they (the video game industry) are coming from. They feel like we are trying to stop the sale of these videos and in fact we are."

Well that's Censorship! There are a whole lot of violent movies out there, but those aren't illegal. The law doesn't say in exact words that these games are banned from Louisiana, but listening to these comments makes it seem like that is the intention.

And since when is the video industry some kind of evil organization? With this comment he seems to be saying: "We are trying to protect our children from these disgusting influences, but the videogame companies are trying to stop us! I guess money is more important to them than the safety of our young children." This isn't Big Tobacco here. This is scapegoating, they WANT the videogame industry to be their villian.

And here's the other thing he said:
"Now if this is overturned," Michot continued, "I think you'll see the legislature address it again in the next session. We can't legislate morality but certainly we can stop these games from being sold in Louisiana, getting into the hands of our children. It's the least we could do."

I think he contradicts himself here because I think that banning "immoral things" is the same as "legislating morality".

So he says that if it fails they will try again next session. They don't seem to understand that this won't work. They think that the only reason these things get turned down is the way the bill is written. It doesn't matter how many different ways you say it, banning these games is unconstitutional. The only bill that is going to be passed is a reasonable one.

Louisiana has already passed a law protesting minors from obscene games, with the game industry's blessing. It placed the same restrictions on games that have been placed on film and other media for years. It basically filled a loophole in obscenity laws. I don't know why they think that isn't enough. It might be because no one cared about that law. Everyone has already forgotten it. This new, hotly debated law provides a much better opportunity for grandstanding. "I am willing to defend the innocence of our children all the way to the supreme court!" I don't think they want a law that works, they just want something to point at and say is evil.

Ooh, this is getting long.

I seem to remember reading an interview on Gamespot, (I believe it was with Kathleen Blanco, can't find the link.) where Kathleen Blanco, the Louisiana governer, said that the law isn't really meant to be enforced, it just sends a message to parents. She said that " we aren't going to be arresting kids, of course, we're just sending a message to parents" Wish I could find the link. This law is pretty much useless and unenforcable. The only reason anyone is fighting for it is so they can have a chance to get up on their soapbox.

Oh, and Jack Thompson is an idiot. I almost forgot to mention that part!

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