Louisiana’s governor has signed into law an anti-violent game bill drafted by anti-game attorney Jack Thompson. The ESA, EMA have since confirmed they will fight the law.
The law known as HB 1381, takes effect immediately and prohibits the sale and distribution of games to minors if “The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the video or computer game, taken as a whole, appeals to the minor’s morbid interest in violence.”
Members from both the Republican and Democratic party have shown support for the law. The Louisiana Senate passed the bill with a 35-0 vote, and prior to that, the House passed it 102-0.
In Thompson’s public reaction to the law, he says: “The other states which have passed these laws were sloppy in not making the legislative record as complete as it could have been with this hard scientific evidence.” adding “…This feels a great deal like personal vindication, by the grace of God…”
The ESA has filed suit against Louisiana, with the Entertainment Merchants Association as a co-plaintiff. ESA president Doug Lowenstein said, “This bill is an unnecessary effort.”
He added, “HB 1381 also directly undermines efforts legislators started after enactment of tax credit legislation less than a year ago designed to lure video game development and production to Louisiana to generate needed high-paying technology jobs,” noted Lowenstein. “Signing this bill into law would no doubt hurt the state’s economy, essentially hanging up a ‘Stay Out of Louisiana’ sign on the state’s borders for video game companies.”
Source: Next Generation
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