Despite Judicial Rebuke, MN Bill Sponsor Wants to Try Again

Even though a Federal District Court judge trashed Minnesota's video game law in a sharply-worded ruling yesterday, one of the sponsors of the legislation is ready to try again.

As reported by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, State Sen. Sandy Pappas (D, seen at left) may propose new video game legislation in next year's session.

"The whole ruling defied common sense. I am so disappointed," she told the Pioneer-Press.

"The federal court said we don't have a right to protect our children, but we protect our children from other things. We don't let them smoke or buy liquor. You score points (in video games) for how many women you rape, how many cops you kill. How could that not affect them psychologically?"

GP: The ruling by Judge James Rosenbaum said nothing of the sort. Sen. Pappas is clearly politicking here. And by the way, we'd like to know where she gets her information about games. Is there a game that awards points for raping women? If so, GP hasn't seen it...

Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, whose derision of violent video games as "worthless, disgusting speech" came in for particular rebuke from Judge Rosenbaum, told the newspaper he is considering an appeal. And, despite the court's complete rejection of research data presented by Hatch, the A.G. continued along that line, saying, "There are psychologists who believe the reward mechanism of more points, more games and higher levels of play in video games condition children to be rewarded by reenacting violence in the real world."

Hatch, by the way, is running for Governor in November.

Only Rep. Jeff Johnson, a Republican who co-sponsored Minnesota's legislation, seemed ready to accept the stinging judicial defeat and move forward.

"I don't know if we could go and craft different legislation that would be more narrowly tailored," he said. "Maybe the next step is just outside of legislation." Johnson told the Pioneer-Press that informing parents about game content might be a more effective approach.

Johnson is running for Attorney General in November.

The parental education concept was echoed by Dr. David Walsh, whose National Institute on Media and the Family is based in Minneapolis.

"While we might be tempted to wish for a legislative solution," Walsh said, "the real solution has to be education, which is what we've been advocating for years. Parents need to be media wise and watch what our kids watch. We can't always look to law to solve this problem."