STOP THE SALE OF ADULT VIDEO GAMES TO CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTAL APPROVAL

This afternoon Utah Congressman Jim Matheson and Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry introduced the bipartisan Video Games Rating Enforcement Act in the House of Representatives. This bill will require retailers to check identification in order to keep adult-rated video games from being sold to children.

The legislation comes swiftly on the heels of the release of the latest version of the ultra-violent M-rated video game Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City. Despite the fact that this video game allows players to shoot police officers and innocent bystanders, have sex with prostitutes, and receive lap dances from strippers, nothing currently prevents retailers from selling this video game to children of any age.

A 2005 Federal Trade Commission study found that 42% of unaccompanied 13-16 year-olds were able to purchase "M" (Mature) rated games from retailers, even though the M-rating suggests the game is inappropriate for children under the age of 17.

Of course parents are the first and best line of defense when it comes to protecting their children from inappropriate media content, but they can't fight a multi-million dollar industry alone. Especially when the marketing machines behind games like GTA IV go out of their way to create "buzz" around new releases and retailers do little or nothing to keep these games out of the hands of children.

The proposed legislation codifies the video game industry's own voluntary policies and will ensure better enforcement by requiring all retailers to check IDs from any child trying to buy or rent Mature (M)-rated or Adult-Only (AO) rated games. It does not limit adults' access to any games they want to buy for themselves or for their children -- it merely helps ensure that children can only access age appropriate video games if they are accompanied by an adult.

Please take action on this important issue today urging your representatives in Congress to support the Video Game Ratings Enforcement Act.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at the Parents Television Council

P.S. Don't forget to forward this message to every concerned parent and grandparent you know.