MULTI Missouri Lawmaker Wants To Tax Violent Video Games

[manigamer]

It is good that lawmakers are acknowledging that mental health is a key issue in the problems facing this country. Unfortunately, a Missouri lawmaker has decided the most effective way to fund mental health and deter tragedies like Sandy Hook is to impose a tax on "violent" video games.

State Representative Diane Franklin, of Camdenton, has proposed that video games rated Teen or higher be subject to a 1% sales tax in Missouri. Rep. Franklin has stated that she believes there is a link between violent video games and mental health, and that she wants to "start a discussion" about that link. The bill itself contains this language:

"Because immediate action is necessary to protect the mental health of individuals exposed to violent video games, the enactment of [this bill] is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and the enactment of [this bill] is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution…"

Our Take: We'd like to start a discussion about how Rep. Franklin seems unfamiliar with how the Constitution, or the ESRB, works.

We've beaten the drum before about how there's no scientific evidence whatsoever that violent video games cause any sort of violence or mental health issues, so we'll not belabor that point.

Instead we'd like to point out that, while Rep. Franklin's bill has yet to reach any sort of vote, there's a very clear legal precedent dating back to the 1940s that states laws like this specifically are unconstitutional. Seriously, that took us literally three minutes to find on Google.

Secondly, taxing games rated "Teen" and up makes no sense. So essentially you're arguing that WWE '13, Skate and The Sims, all rated Teen, cause mental illness? How?

If Rep. Franklin wants to fund mental health treatment in her state, we heartily support her. But she should find better reasons to do it, and a way to do it that doesn't blatantly violate the law of the land or lump people with a hobby in with those suffering from genuine, and serious, illness.

Missouri House of Representatives: House Bill No. 157 (Link is to PDF)


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This guy i think took a page or two from ZARDARIS SCAM BOOK

 

[TrueCoolGuy]

:fp2:

10char/

 

[maxold90]

so that's the effort Obama did for his so called "gun law" to end violence and gun culture from there society . zardari ka bhai hay wakai main (sm1) lmao to another senseless effort to make the world a better place (sm1) .

 

[XxRebellionxX]

This retarded. How long will they blame video games for the crap. :fp2:

Sent from a rebellious Galaxy S II

 

[manigamer]

Obama Asks Congress to Commission Violent Games Study

[h=2]An investigation to be headed up by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[/h]

Ever since the tragic shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, American politicians have been scrambling to concoct new legislation in an attempt to stem the tide of violent and unfortunate outbursts such as the one carried out late last year.


Today, President Barack Obama revealed a slew of possible actions, many suggested by a task force headed-up by Vice President Joe Biden, including the use of 23 executive orders and a series of suggestions to Congress.



As pointed out by the Washington Times, embedded in his suggestions to Congress is the requested allocation of $10 million to study violent media. However, it’s not as significant as it seems, with Times author Stephen Dinan noting that “President Obama’s pushback against gun violence focuses heavily on new firearms restrictions and on mental health, but video games and movies – two cultural issues that many Americans blame for violence – get little attention.”



The requested money amounts to, in governmental terms, an incredibly paltry sum. The American government spends over $10 billion dollars per day.



Nonetheless, should Congress vote to allocate $10 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the group will be able to undertake a study “investigating the relationship between video games, media images and violence.” But here’s the important part, according to Stephen Dinan: “…overall, the White House said that while limiting guns is the role of the government, controlling what Americans see in movies and games is best left to parents.”



With Congress at an impasse over a much more serious issue in the form of the debt ceiling, it’s unclear whether the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Democrat-controlled Senate will agree to any of Obama’s suggestions, nonetheless this one. However, we’ll keep you posted if and when legislation is officially drafted and sent to Congress.

 

[TrueCoolGuy]

:fp2: :fp2:

10char/

 

[XxRebellionxX]

For crying out loud! Come on.
Americans are so retarded. :fp2:

Sent from a rebellious Galaxy S II

 

[undead666kira]

oooooooooooooo.. i wonder i these lawmakers ever met Rehman malik ?