California Reviews Violent Game Legislation

Since 2005 the State of California has been trying to ban the sale or rental of video games to minors. The law was thrown out in 2007. Again in Feb. 2009, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit voted no on a law to require limitations on selling violent video games to minors. In the case, Video Software Dealers Association v. Schwarzenegger, the outcome was cited as an invalid content based restriction on freedom of speech.

Now, the California's Psychiatric and Psychological Association along with State Senator Leland Yee has filed an amicus curiae brief petitioning the court to review the law again, as they submit new materials that explain the purpose behind the law in more detail.

The video game industry has filed an amicus brief in return to dispute the brief submitted by Senator Yee.

Here is an excerpt from the document: "Parents can read a book, watch a movie or listen to a CD to discern if it is appropriate for their child. These violent video games, on the other hand, can contain up to 800 hours of footage with the most atrocious content often reserved for the highest levels and can be accessed only by advanced players after hours upon hours of progressive mastery. ... Notably, extended play has been observed to depress activity in the frontal cortex of the brain which controls executive thought and function, produces intentionality and the ability to plan sequences of action, and is the seat of self-reflection, discipline and self-control."