Tennessee pondering violent-game ban

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Mar 9, 2006 5:50 pm PT

Democratic Senator Tommy Kilby's SB3981 seeks to outlaw the sale of violent games within the state.

Add Tennessee to the list of states considering gaming legislation. Last week, Democratic Senator Tommy Kilby filed SB3981, which would make it illegal to sell or rent an "extremely violent video game" in the state of Tennessee.

The bill defines the phrase "extremely violent video game" as "a video game in which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being," with a number of clauses specifying that a game would have to be patently offensive to prevailing community standards, among other things, to be considered extremely violent.

The law also takes into account whether or not the virtual victim is an authority figure, whether the victim is conscious of the abuse taking place, and whether the player of the game intends to inflict severe mental or physical pain or suffering on the virtual victim.

Other factors that would nudge a game into the "extremely violent" category "include infliction of gratuitous violence upon the victim beyond that necessary to commit the killing, needless mutilation of the victim's body, and helplessness of the victim."

If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.

158 Comments

  • GoldenSilence87

    Posted Mar 29, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    More politcal meddling...I think we're all human here and I think we all know what we're playing for better or worse. Let US make the decisions!

  • ghostpanther

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 10:45 am PT

    For the love of mercy, people need to take responsibility for their own misdeeds and actions. I remember a case where a guy arrested for committing violent crimes tried to blame it on the violence he saw in the movie Robocop.

    For me, this all boils down to how each person regards what is wrong and right in the real-world. Someone who grows up with little regard for life, who does not feel the full moral weight of respecting the lives of others, is bound to think it is okay to use violence as a means to an end. It is ridiculous to think that a person is simply actiing on and repeating images of violence.

    If that were the case, then we are all just overgrown children who never own up to the fact we are to blame when we commit crimes with our own hands.

  • UmbrellaMaster

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 8:46 am PT

    With our freedom of speech constantly being whittled away, I can definitely say I'm proud to be an American. I mean, who wants a society that allows each and every individual to think for themselves? The Founding Fathers certainly never did...

    Thank you Tennessee, for attempting to do what no one else has the balls to do: finally construe freedom of speech laws according to the will of the people!

    (insert sarcasm anywhere you wish)

  • sSubZerOo

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 8:02 am PT

    They need to fix the inbreeding problem there first I think =P

  • ReyWing

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 5:22 am PT

    i saw a gorgeous babe once and i said to her, "Are you from Tennessee? 'Cause you're the only ten I see." I feel like in some way I was sexually harassing her. But you know what, I learned that from TV... NOT some videogame. SO THERE FREAKING CONGRESS! Ban TV while you're at it! OR BAN ALL FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND TAKE AWAY OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

  • SAC2BAY2LA

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 10:51 pm PT

    thx god i live in california

  • Jackrm

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 8:45 pm PT

    Sweet! Now we can become a part of the Communist Party!

  • Stephen361984

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 4:13 pm PT

    You'd think they'ed have gotten the point by now. All they're doing is wasting time with these bills that everybody knows are never going to pass. They should focus on more important things like better education, better hospitals and stopping crime and drug abuse. Stop your kids getting their hands on cocaine not some video game

  • mp5b

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 2:57 pm PT

    they can pass it but the supreme court will knock it down under "freedom of speech". thank god for the constitution and the fore fathers.

  • gamer0100

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 6:26 pm PT

    It doesn't really matter not like they are going to be able to stop them from buying those types of games over the internet.

  • cheater2000

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 10:49 am PT

    what would happen if it did pass and they imported the games from other states or had them snuck in?

  • Vegeta-sama

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 8:23 am PT

    I live in TN and I know this law wont pass because everyone knows that the guy who put this up is the biggest moron in the whole state. It's also unconstitutional without a doubt.

  • AndrenidEnder

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 8:04 am PT

    I'm a Tennessee resident. This is a clear violation of our right to free speech. Even if it were passed, it'd be challenged soon enough. I buy all my games over the internet anyways, so it doesn't affect me. Nevertheless, adults should have the right to choose what media they want to consume. This bill is ludicrous, it will be shot down later if not sooner.

  • EliteMercenary

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 2:40 am PT

    You want a vision of the future? Imagine a boot stamping on a human face. Forever.

  • the_mrwizard

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 9:13 pm PT

    Wow, where should I start banning all violent videogames. Hmmm... why do't we just ban the Teletubbies too cuz all those bright colors may lead to the use of hullucinogenic drugs later on in a childs life. Also, by passing this bill wouldn't it set a precidence to ban other media such as movies. What are you people thinking? Videogames are the source of violence and contribut to the increase of crime. Maybe if you made it less accessible to buy guns then the crime rate would go down. What seems more to blame the increase of the sale of guns in Tennesse, or the sale of videogames? Think about it.

  • ZoSo1975

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 8:11 pm PT

    I live in Tennessee; and I'm ready to slap this Senator senseless. Adults should have the right to choose what form of entertainment they enjoy; not having the government try to dictate what can and cannot be purchased. Plus, this issue has been raised before, elsewhere; the end result was against the measure, because doing something like this makes Government acknowledge and give judicial power to a private organization (the ESRB) as a law-enforcing body (so far as the ratings of the games legally determining what titles can and cannot be bought.) Last, but not least - screw the complete Fing ifdiots that presume to say screw Tennessee. Morons.

  • boolow407

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    Why do all the inbreds, hookers, and lowlifes take offense to GTA? Screw Tennesee also.

  • GS_darkplayer

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 5:24 pm PT

    Rothgarr what you doing is same thing what this dumb a** want to do. And one from UK. I think pron with kid sicking. And i never want that in my game ever. It stupit. And if they do that. Zthey are brakeing there owned law. If they think it thow. It take other poeple right away. Kid are not the majortey of gamer thoese say anymore. there poeple in my age group. And that is the thruth. And he need to know this before he does something wrong. And one day there will be no mo country of free in this part of the world. It beanouther dicktated contruy. Just like Iraq was brofe this stupit war started.

  • kamillebidan92

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 5:10 pm PT

    1st Amendment Indeed

  • BurritoClock

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 4:43 pm PT

    It's hardly a sign of what is happening to america when one state congressman proposes a bill with no chance of passing, to indict all of america is a bit of a stretch.

    Funny, I looked him up and the NRA gave him an A rating! hhahaha

    Here is his offices phone number, remember to be respectful if you do call, it doesn't help our side to play into the stereotypes: (615) 741-1449 and his email is sen.tommy.kilby@legislature.state.tn.us

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