This legislative session I am joining a broad coalition of parents, child advocates, psychiatrists, law enforcement officers, and civil rights leaders in authoring Assembly Bill 450, which would restrict the sale of the most ultra-violent video games to children. No longer are games simply about shooting aliens and destroying asteroids, but instead the top selling games reward players for killing police officers, maiming elderly persons, running over pedestrians and committing despicable acts of murder and torture upon women and racial minorities. As a child psychologist, I understand the harmful effects these types of games have on our children.

Specifically, AB 450 would prohibit the sale and rental of violent video games that depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, to persons who are 16 years of age or younger.

According to the Federal trade Commission, nearly 70 percent of thirteen to sixteen year olds are able to purchase M-rated (Mature) video games, which are designed for adults. Ninety-two percent of children play video or computer games, of which about forty percent are rated M. Mature-rated games are the fastest growing segment of the 10 billion-dollar video game industry.

Last session, we were successful in passing a bill that requires retailers to post a sign explaining the video game rating system. However, since that bill passed many new games have been introduced, like Manhunt and JFK Reloaded, which are even more violent and realistic. Clearly, the video game industry is not concerned with the welfare of our children.

Nonetheless, I support the video game industry's right to make these games. Many of the artists and producers of video games are incredibly talented and creative. AB 450 does not ban or censor any games, but simply prohibits the most appalling games from being sold to our children.

As adults, we have a responsibility to protect our children from harmful material. While clearly it is the right of adults to purchase alcohol, cigarettes and pornography, few if any would argue that children should be allowed to drink, smoke, or view pornography. We don't view these restrictions as violations of children's rights; we view them as necessary limitations to protect their health and safety. the courts have agreed, and even the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the death penalty, stated that our children deserve different considerations under the law.

There is hard medical evidence to prove that activities, such as smoking, drinking, and viewing pornography at a young age can interfere with a child's development. Similarly, countless studies have shown that excessive exposure to media violence at a young age can lead to increased aggression, desensitization, and anti-social behavior later in life. Additionally, the repetitive aspect of video games makes them particularly dangerous to children. Many of today's games closely resemble those used by the military to train soldiers for combat and by law enforcement to protect our community.

Regulating the sale of violent video games to minors does not take away a parent's responsibility, but in fact gives them control. Right now, any 12 year old can walk into a retailer and purchase a video game that will allow him or her to virtually act out violence on lifelike depictions of humans without their parent's knowledge. In Postal 2, the lead character mutters sexist and racist slurs while urinating or pouring gasoline on women and minorities before setting them on fire. In Grand theft Auto, a player can hire a prostitute and then kill her to boost his energy reserves. these types of games are simply inappropriate and unhealthy for our children.

Proudly, Californians have overwhelmingly agreed. the Girl Scouts, Common Sense Media, American Academy of Pediatrics, California Commission on the Status of Women, NAACP, and the state Parent teachers Association are all supporting AB 450. Please join us in protecting our children by supporting the effort to pass this much-needed LEGISLATION.
 

Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.
Speaker pro tempore
California State Assembly
Speaker pro tempore Leland Yee represents the 12th Assembly District, which includes San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.