Louisiana Senate unanimously passes Thompson bill

Antigame measure written by vocal antigame advocate now just one step away from becoming law; Gov. Kathleen Blanco expected to sign.

Last Friday, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a bill restricting game sales into law. Though it was immediately challenged in court by the Entertainment Software Association, its rather mild terms didn't exactly sow panic among gamers. The law would fine minors who attempted to buy Mature- and Adults Only-rated games $25 and ask game retailers post a sign warning of the fine in their stores.

Late yesterday, another game bill moved one step closer to law in Louisiana. However, the measure has stirred up a much larger controversy in the industry for two reasons: its draconian terms, which are based on previously upheld obscenity laws, and its coauthor, vociferous antigame activist Jack Thompson.

Written by Representative Roy Burrell (D-District 2) and Thompson, HB1381 would make it illegal to sell, rent, or lease a game to a minor if it met three conditions. First, if the "average person" would think "appeals to the minor's morbid interest in violence." Second, if it "depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards." Lastly, a game would only qualify if it "lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors." Violators could be fined between $100 and $2,000 and sentenced to up to 12 months in a state prison.

After being approved by a key committee last week, HB1381 was passed last night in a 35-0 vote in the Louisiana State Senate, according to watchdog site GamePolitics.com. The bill will now be presented to Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, who made national headlines during the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last fall. The Governor is expected to sign the bill, given the unanimous vote and the recent linking of games and teenage murder suspects in the Louisiana media. If that happens, expect an ESA legal filing to follow shortly.

257 Comments

  • gt4freak1985

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 4:04 pm PT

    Also, what a waste of money, police, and just our time! Id rather see time spent on drug enforcment, video games are not a big issues, look at how many teens use drugs, have sex, and smoke? yea vid games are the real issue here? there are 100 million gamers prolly, but yet there have been 20 assumed vid game related killings? oh that really is an issues. violenece has trully gone down between the ages of 12 a nd 21. because games give us something to do. crime has risen from the ages of 25-45. adults are commiting more crimes than kids. Jack has gotten it all backwards. games are not as bad as they seem. Mature games are not the best selling games on the market. Teen games make the most sales, mature games only make up %25 of the games on the market! so who is the moron.

  • MronoC

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 4:04 pm PT

    wtf? who's to decide if a game has redeeming value or not? one could make a very good argument that the violence in GTA is used for coherent social commentary.

  • BoN1Nwie

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    more and more louisiana tax payer money down the drain. Hurricane season is upon us and Katrina could've been just a precurser.

  • magusvirga

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    ladies and gentlemen, jack thompson is...the anti christ

  • xx_patRIOT_xx

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 4:00 pm PT

    I personally disagree with...eveything Jack Thompson says and does...
    he's profitteering off of other peoples misery...

    like some money hungry harlot.

    grr.

    and it's not a political (Democrat or Republican) thing...
    most states listen to this guy are switching their thinking...

    sadly.

  • Squids-Ahoy

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 4:00 pm PT

    Unconstitutional limitations on free speech lead to visits from the pain monsters. As a lawyer, he should be, and hopefully will be, disbarred.

  • Chubbums

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:59 pm PT

    Gamers aren't a race! I believe the word you meant to use was prejudice.

  • Enterprise-E

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:58 pm PT

    This is one time i will say that our Louisiana Senate sucks and i live in New Orleans. Why waste money on something so trival and not really solve the problem. If there was an problem in the begining. This whole deal about games is the direct cause of volience is just bull***!

  • gt4freak1985

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:58 pm PT

    Why doesnt he focus on illegal immigration. That is the biggest problem in us. Not the theory of video game violence. I hate him. Illegal immigration is a massive massive problem in the us. I am from arizona where it is the biggest problem. I would love to drag his dumb ass to az and let him see what the real problems are in the world, not some half chalked up theory. He is a closed minded biggot. I really hope somebody puts him in his place. a straight jacket and a place called an assylum!

  • gameloverx

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:57 pm PT

    You rock Jack Thompson

  • gt4freak1985

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:54 pm PT

    Jack Thompson is a racist against gamers and the game industry. I personally think he just is a media wh*re and loves to see his name in the papers, on gamepspot and in the news. He is a worthless human being who needs to be put away. They money spent on these insulting dumb laws could feed entire Kenyan city. Our country is filled with some greedy dumb people! I really do not like him nor Hillary Clinton. They are just disgusting human beings!

  • Chaos_Zero13

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:54 pm PT

    jack=n00b

  • sumone998

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:54 pm PT

    who gets to decide what an "average" person is? and i guess all minors have a morbid sense of violence. and another thing, who decides what the "prevailing Standards" are? someone should make a mod to half life where everyone has thompson's face

  • hardknox

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:53 pm PT

    Someone needs to talk to this guy

  • aaronquest

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    if he wants violance lets all grab a rifle and go to him

  • SourCherryBoy

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    Oh Jack, Jack, Jack... I'm runnig out of words here...

    Jack

  • xbox_gamer1

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    Does ir really matter?Most of the people who lived in Louisiana now live here in Houston or somewhere else in Texas.

  • elessartelrunya

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:50 pm PT

    Im sure if Jack Thompson were to mysteriously go missing...people wouldnt care...

  • majindan

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:50 pm PT

    ...you gotta love that fuzzy pic gamespot keeps using every time they reference the Madd AssHatter known as J.Thompson. Just look at his facial expression

  • -BC-Soldier91

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    This country is backwards, they have obviously given up on any sort of free speech. If you take away videogames, why not music, videos, and any other form of entertainment, and with that half of your country will move to Europe..because they care about important things like the War in Iraq and global aid. I hate this country, everyone always wants it their way, well I go with the majority and the majority of people here would like them to stay. Its never about the people anymore rather its just what they say. THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID OF US, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! People like Jack just like to be the center of attention. He doesn't care if people die over videogames, it happens. As long as technology goes forward it will happen. I just wish they'd shut up and move on to something more important that WE CAN FIX.

  • pat360xb

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    how in the world would they find authorities find out about such a selling?? its not like the minor would go tell someone or the parents would tell the police because theyd be out 25 bucks! guess ill never know.

  • Deranged_Minds

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    A $2000 fine and 12 months in state prison? Are you kidding me? Did I miss something? Is game restriction really that important where you have to otherwise innocent retailers in prison?

  • LordGamer0001

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    yeah seriously this is dumb.

  • yoshi_64

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    Tell me, what will this actually accomplish? Why not do this to movies, and magazine stores that sell pornographic/gore books/mags? Why not just take the initiative on that while you're at it? Or a kid who buys a CD with explicit warning label?
    Darn Jack, I wish he would just shut up.

  • Dunmer_Lord

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:47 pm PT

    that's total bull!!!! any game!? I think i speak for everyone that it's bull crap to be fined $100 for buying Super Princess Peach!

  • Atomic_Mutant

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:47 pm PT

    Thompson does seem to have some clout there, eh? At least he is passionate about something, however misplaced his enthusiasm may be. If it only concerns minors not being able to play mature games...hope the legislation does not prove to be the beginning of a slippery slope of content restriction. Thompson does his thing, Penny Arcade crew does their thing; all different measures trying to redress the same underestimated problem. No need to burn the guy; it is only going to make him more determined.

    Games are quite a trivial issue to these lawmakers. It is akin to legislations signed in a flurry leading up to the fall vote that the issue is getting more exposure or visibility among constituents/media. It may look grandiose on paper, but in execution the follow up enforcement will leave to be desired, something like to the level of jaywalking. It just raises an awareness of the ongoing issue championed predominantly by a single man.

    So what I am saying is there is really nothing much in the way of regulation, nor is there anything substantial at stake, to regulate this.

  • jon1233

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:46 pm PT

    Since all gamers are just like hitmen, why hasn't anyone killed him yet?

  • Cartman86

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:45 pm PT

    At least it isn't half as bad as some of the other bills. Though backing Jack Thompson in itself no matter how nice the bill is is sick. I really just don't understand this whole topic. Ok Films in theaters are they required by law (or the MPAA) to not allow children to enter R rated movies without an adult buying the ticket? That is how i've always thought it was. In the 90s they changed the rule to mean just that. Its worked out fine. If a kids parent wont let them see an R rated movie than tough. I'm sorry for you if your parents are idiots or whatever. Sneak in. Its not hard. That whole problem has been solved basically. The only person ever blamed is the child for sneaking in now. Why not do that with games? They are trying to do it here, but I suppose the difference is that the government wants to do it? Come on ESRB! get with the game industry and require stores to make people show ID. Personally I dont see a huge problem at the moment. The majority of stores ask for ID, but this whole business won't stop till rules are put into place.

  • TheBeret

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:45 pm PT

    Seriously, Nobody cares if your the first, second or third post. So stop things like, "First post! w0o0o0ot!" It's really annoying.

    Other than that I do agree with most of you this is pretty southern but most of those three "conditions" are strictly opinion.

  • death919

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    @ strike009, while it might not seem like placing a sign in the store would do anything, I'll bet anything the sign will be exagerated and miss-worded to be something like "we sold murder simulators to infants, and helped increase the crime rate in this area of the city".

  • paullywog

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    this guy needs to give up. he might as well start making it illegal to go to the movies or watch tv also, cuz i see things on tv that are just as bad, if not worse, than video games.

  • VFG

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:43 pm PT

    I can see the lawsuit already. Doesn't that state have more important matters to attend to, like cleaning up the trash heap much of it became after Katrina?

  • bobblyhead

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:42 pm PT

    I have come to a simple conclusion.

    Jack Thompson must die. I dont care who does it, he must die.
    He is making it so not even the big players (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) can make money. I have friends that play GTA III and they're like 12 years old. The game market is marketed mostly to kids actually. Make the games illegal and economy will fail.

    But I have some hope, because although I hate Sony and Microsoft, they could sue. And with more money and better lawyers, that law could be obliterated

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:42 pm PT

    This is one stupid law right here. the terms of the law don't even make sense! Another thing, how about bringing the parents in so they can check on their kids?

  • blackdamage

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:41 pm PT

    I'm so happy I'm 19.

    Though, here in Italy there isn't any kind of problem with minors buying R games... we won't see much of a change for a while.

  • death919

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:41 pm PT

    In 6 months, I'll be 17, and thus be unaffected by this. Then again, I'm in Canada, so this law won't apply to me. I don't give a rat's bum what these politicians say, if I grow up and have a son, he's playing whatever suits his gaming needs, not what suits the "politician's needs".

  • Chubbums

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:41 pm PT

    Thompson is the man. Why get mad at him? He's not the idiot buying his kids GTA. He's not the moron shooting someone in the face for not loaning him their car. He's not the one working at a gamestore selling M rated game to stupid little kids. When he pushes bill's that affect videogames as a whole then I get upset, but keeping them out of the hands of children is not something to whine about. Gee how bout we don't card at the liquor store anymore, and while were at it lets allow kids to be able to pick up the latest Hustler without a hitch.

  • Hellfire05

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    If there is anything that really pisses me off, it is these antigame activists

  • Salzeda

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    I feel sorry for his kids

  • Drachman

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    Oh god, it seems that there always has to be a summer scandal.

  • Cniinc

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:39 pm PT

    NOOOOO!!!

  • Hallway_Giant

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:39 pm PT

    Gah, maybe this law would be a bit more acceptable if it wasn't so completely based on opinions, etc...

  • Flaminglips1

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:39 pm PT

    I live in Louisisana, this is bull

  • XtReMeGaMeR4eVa

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:38 pm PT

    If gamers are so crazy I wanna know why no one has hit this guy with an 18 wheeler. He would be of more use smashed into a road somewhere that as a Lawyer. Just goes to prove Lawyers are douches, especially this one.

  • Strike009

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    wait wait wait. they fine the kid IF THEY GET CAUGHT but not the store? wtf?? and having a sign that says WE sold M rated games to minors isnt going to do squat! what an ignorant bill.

  • VladikK

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    To decebal: Thompson is a lawyer, not a Congressman or a member of a state General Assembly.

    Therefore, he is not elected.

    BTW, to whom is the money charged?

    This law is not Constitutional. It should be repealed soon. Don't worry.

  • Icedragon41

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    I live in Louisiana. This is **** even tho im 17 and can legaly buy them without consequence. It is sad that they have to do this. They should check out the person that buys the game and make sure he knows the difference between realality and Fantasy.

  • HasShah1

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:36 pm PT

    wow, when i thought politicians could get no more ignorant...

  • decebal

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:34 pm PT

    This guy is a joke. Can't believe americans vote for him.

  • SCboy79S

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    Looks like a lot of people... whoever is still in Louisiana... are going to make a hasty departure. GG Jack!

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