Minnesota pol attacks "disgusting stuff" in games

The Minnesota House of Representatives yesterday overwhelmingly voted to impose fines on minors caught renting or buying a video game rated AO for Adults Only or M for Mature. Doing so would be classified as a petty misdemeanor under the state penal code.

The bill, referred to as SF0785, prohibits anyone under the age of 17 from "knowingly renting or purchasing a restricted video game." It also "prohibits an owner of a retail establishment or an employee from renting or selling a restricted video game to a person under the age of 17." The maximum fine is $25.

Both ratings already direct retailers not to sell such games to individuals under the age of 17.

Rep. Jeff Johnson (R-Plymouth), one of the bill's authors, is reportedly focusing his efforts on controlling the sale and rental of games he says are full of "absolutely disgusting stuff."

Speaking with the Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis, Johnson said, "I don't want to grandstand; I actually want to change the law...and give the attorney general a good fighting chance of winning" any challenge to the ruling that might surface in the local courts.

Johnson is running for attorney general this year.

The Minnesota House passed the bill by a vote of 114 to 17. The bill reportedly passed the Minnesota Senate a year ago in a 53 to 10 vote. If signed by the Governor, the bill is slated to become law on August 1, 2006.