Tennessee game bill withdrawn

Proposed law that would make it illegal to sell violent games to anyone in the state has reportedly been nixed by its original author.

In March, Tennessee state senator Tommy Kilby introduced a violent-game restriction bill that was a little more restrictive than most. The Democrat's proposed measure, SB3981, sought to make it illegal to sell or rent an "extremely violent video game" in the state of Tennessee, regardless of age.

That bill has since been withdrawn by Kilby, according to a report on Game Politics. The legislatively minded gaming news site was told by a staffer of the senator's that the measure (along with an accompanying bill introduced in the state House of Representatives as HB4052) was pulled due to concerns about its constitutionality.

42 Comments

  • TheBigTicket21

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 8:03 am PT

    banning games is ridiculous

  • NeoJedi

    Posted May 24, 2006 9:04 am PT

    Well that was pushing the enveloppe a little too far... I'm alright with restricting violent video games for minors, but not adults... that would be just a little insane.

  • rvinsc

    Posted May 24, 2006 7:49 am PT

    Oh yeah.

  • Leethater

    Posted May 23, 2006 9:26 pm PT

    Well, usually i don't get angry at the libs for stuff.. but damn.. thats crazy. I sooo glad that this bill did not get passed, and i'd be damned if i saw one gamer that was in SUPPORT of the bill. At least they listen to the populance at least some of the time. I dont live anywhere near that state, but if it passed, it would pick up momentum, oddly enough, with both the neo cons a neo libs. Gah i hate politicians. Anyway, very glad it did not pass.

  • nintendorocks

    Posted May 23, 2006 7:59 pm PT

    Glad that some state policticans still have some sense...Thank you, Tennessee.

  • nacho4511

    Posted May 23, 2006 7:42 pm PT

    YYYeah now that is one for the gamers.

  • marc_man3001

    Posted May 23, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    Omg why dont they just give up already...

  • holhardy

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:36 pm PT

    JORDAN FROM DOWNTOWN.........
    YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS
    Gamers win again

  • Video_Game_King

    Posted May 23, 2006 2:52 pm PT

    One more victory for gamers ironically at the hands of the losing party.

  • maximo1

    Posted May 23, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    This is good

  • flashtek

    Posted May 23, 2006 2:23 pm PT

    Thank God, somebody is finally starting to understand.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted May 23, 2006 2:20 pm PT

    yes thats what they get

  • jimbo102671

    Posted May 23, 2006 2:05 pm PT

    I read back on the original story. If the context of that bill was taken figuratively, every "M"-rated and many "T"-rated games would have been affected. We need to thank Kilby for using his head for a change.

  • Shingo

    Posted May 23, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    Can't say I'm suprised. Its good and kind of weird that all these banniing laws are proposed and none of them pull through

  • kingofps3

    Posted May 23, 2006 1:37 pm PT

    One right thing is today accomplished.

  • Rej72380

    Posted May 23, 2006 1:20 pm PT

    It's a good thing I live in the state of Colorado, in which it's polititians prefer not to get involved in the whole violent video game issue.

  • Merl57

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:50 pm PT

    This is literally the most idiodic idea of a bill even dumber than the xxx domain that was thought of by politions to take our freedom away. Ok no more violent news, no more lies mr polititions

  • styphin

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:21 pm PT

    This is all because America's senators are all old fogeys (50 years+) who have no connection to pop culture or today's youth. They're afraid of change, they're afraid of "the corruption of youth," but historically, every generation of polititians has tried to limit the exposure of pop media or free thinking of the young generation. And where has that gotten us?

    Politicians should focus on teaching parents to be PARENTS, and stop trying to decide what is best for every child.

  • Link1515

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:14 pm PT

    The only games that should be banned everywhere are games like GTA. Most violent games don't come anywhere near close to GTA's mature content.

  • afbratt

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:12 pm PT

    As a TN reseident all I can say is THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!

  • OPOLO

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:07 pm PT

    GREAT NEWS

  • Llanth

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:01 pm PT

    Personally I could see an underground game sellers union being formed in Tennessee just because of this, it'd be more profitable than prohbition was for the Kennedy's! And Narroo do you think the age thing stops many people from drinking cause I sure as heck don't.

  • caesarbites

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:01 pm PT

    Narroo, this is different because they want to ban all sales and rentals of M rated games to ALL PEOPLE, regardless of what age they are. That just isn't allowed, because it restricts your right to play it if you want, and the developer's right to make it.

  • DrKill09

    Posted May 23, 2006 12:00 pm PT

    "Read the Constitution BEFORE you start to write laws!"

    I can't agree more. They complain constantly about kids playing M rated games, but not R or NC-17 movies that have way more detailed violence and sex. Also, tv has been getting a lot more "mature" lately, too (not that I mind at all), but the point is, a little kid could see worse things on tv than what is in a game. Politicians just do this crap for votes from soccer moms with too much money and time on their hands.

  • Narroo

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:54 am PT

    They are not restricing free speech. If this was restcricing free speech then what is the whole, wait till your 21 to drink thing?
    In fact, you can't sell or advertise cigerates near a school. So is that the same as this?

  • ReaperXxxx

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:48 am PT

    These politicians really have to start doing some research before making themselves look THIS stupid. I mean, I'm not looking for a genius to be elected in Tennessee, but c'mon...

  • gonzalezj1

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:26 am PT

    Read the Constitution BEFORE you start to write laws!

  • opak3

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:21 am PT

    Please...like any of the people in the state or US senate give a rats arse about the Constitution any more. All they care about is looking good and getting the best deals they can for the companies that got them into office. Yeah take the violent games off the shelves but keep on selling cigarettes. Stop selling realistic looking toy guns but keep the real ones....

  • player_leo

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:07 am PT

    Are they crazy.. If that went through it would eliminate more then half the games on the shelves

  • Jungul

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:05 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • shizwill03

    Posted May 23, 2006 11:01 am PT

    Tennessee gamers REJOICE!!!!!

    The bill probably would have not made it through anyway.

  • caesarbites

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:56 am PT

    Hooray. One crazy debunked bill. 492,056 to go. Oh, and I was born in Cleveland, Tennessee, so I feel for you Tennessee residents sometimes. I know how suffocating that state was for me.

  • Duckyindiana

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:42 am PT

    In the uk the BBFC rate games the same as films, there are loads of 18 rated games and stores stock them. Why do stores in the us not sell adult only rated games?

  • ubj007

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:37 am PT

    Good

  • djkizzle

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:24 am PT

    I agree with TheRagingGamer because, well, I just so happen to live in Tennessee.

  • TheRagingGamer

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:22 am PT

    I could potentially live with legislation limiting the age at which one can buy certain games to make sure parents are involved in the decision -- but trying to tell me, a grown adult, what I can and can't see and play? Thats going WAY over the line. I'm glad this bill didn't get anywhere.

  • maverick21311

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:21 am PT

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press"
    These guys need to read the constitution.

  • Devilshelper666

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:20 am PT

    This is getting silly, the ESRB was created for this, and most stores that sell games ask anyway. It's all the damn best buy's and circuit city's that are screwing this up.

  • Donkeljohn Site moderator

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:16 am PT

    A noble attempt, but perhaps a more moderate legislation would pass. Restrictions are understandable, but wholesale denial is not only bad for business, but also unfairly limiting.

  • Duckyindiana

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:16 am PT

    Im so glad i live in the uk these game laws are just crazy.

  • titomag

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:15 am PT

    that would have been one stupid bill

  • John_of_Fire

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:13 am PT

    Sweet!!! Good news they are stopping this madness.

    (Wow I actually was 1st to post. odd)

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs