The Parents Television Council in the News
Gov. Blagojevich signs law making Illinois the only state in the nation to protect children from violent and sexually explicit video games,
US Fed News, July 25, 2005.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., issued the following press release:
Surrounded by parents and pre-teens in a public library in Aurora, Gov. Rod R.
Blagojevich today signed the landmark Safe Games Illinois Act, making Illinois
the only state in the nation to ban the sale and rental of violent and sexually
explicit video games to children. HB 4023, sponsored by State Sen. Deanna
Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), won final
legislative approval in May. The governor first proposed the Safe Games
initiative in December.
"It's tough being a parent these days. It's much more difficult than it was when
my parents were raising my brother and me. When I was growing up, my mother
spent a lot of time worrying about what my brother and I were doing outside of
the home - who we were you hanging around with and making sure we weren't
hanging around with the wrong kids. Nowadays, it's a lot tougher. While the
values parents are teaching their kids are very similar, the demands on parents
are greater - they're spending more time outside of the home and there are more
dangers coming into the home," said Gov. Blagojevich.
"Parents don't need government to raise their kids. That's their job. But
government can help them protect their children from influences they may not
want their kids exposed to," added Gov. Blagojevich. "This law makes Illinois
the first state in the nation to ban the sale and rental to children of violent
and sexually explicit video games. This law is all about empowering parents and
giving them the tools they need to protect their kids. And giving them the
ability to make decisions on the kinds of games their kids can play."
"I introduced this legislation because these games are graphic, offensive, and
intended for adults, not children," said Rep. Chapa LaVia. "We are now the only
state in the nation to protect our children from these games, and I am grateful
to the governor and my colleagues in the General Assembly for showing leadership
on this issue."
The Safe Games Illinois Act, House Bill 4023, bans the rental and sale of
violent and sexually explicit video games to children younger than 18. Retailers
who violate the ban commit a petty
offense and face a fine of $1,000. The bill also requires retailers to label
violent and sexually explicit video games, similar to the "Parental Advisory"
label found on music CDs, and to post signs explaining the video game rating
system. A retailer's failure to properly label games or place proper signs is
punishable by a $500 fine for the first three violations and a $1,000 fine for
every subsequent violation.
Unlike the motion picture industry, the video game industry has not developed an
effective self-regulation system that keeps adult material out of the hands of
minors. In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission found that 69 percent of teenagers
were able to purchase M-rated video games - giving them easy access to images
many adults would consider offensive. The FTC also found that not only are
minors easily purchasing violent and sexually explicit games, 10 of the 11
companies it studied produced at least one marketing document specifically
targeting boys under 17 for a violent, M-rated game. An independent
investigation by State Rep. Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg) and the Illinois State
Crime Commission found that a 15-year-old boy could purchase "Mature" rated
video games (recommended for children 17 and older) at 11 of the 15 stores he
visited.
The danger in giving minors easy access to mature video games was highlighted
recently when the Entertainment Software Rating Board changed the rating of the
popular Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from "M" (for mature) to "AO" (Adults
Only) when it was discovered that players can acquire software over the Internet
that unlocks hidden X-rated material within the game. Under the Safe Games
Illinois Act, only adults will be able to purchase Grand Theft Auto and similar
mature-themed video games.
"Parents today are up against a multi-billion dollar industry - that peddles
violent and sexually explicit video games to children. And when a kid plays the
video game, he's not a spectator - he's a participant. He's the one who uses the
joystick and the keyboard. He's the one who takes crack cocaine and feels the
video controller simulate what it's like to be on drugs. He's the one who
engages in simulated sex. He cuts someone's head off and makes blood spurt from
the neck. He's the killer who laughs at the victim and makes crude sexual
comments after being with a prostitute. And, incidentally, he gets extra credit
for doing it," the Governor said. "For the same reason we don't allow kids to
buy pornography, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy cigarettes, for
the same reason we don't allow kids to buy alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to
go to stores and buy violent and sexually explicit video games - games that
teach them to do the very things we put people in jail for."
Under the Safe Games Illinois Act, "violent" games are defined as those that
include depictions of or simulations of human-on-human violence in which the
player kills or otherwise causes serious physical harm to another human.
"Serious physical harm" includes depictions of death, dismemberment, amputation,
decapitation, maiming, disfigurement, mutilation of body parts, or rape.
"Sexually explicit" games are defined as those that the average person -
applying contemporary community standards with respect to minors -- would find
are designed to appeal or pander to the prurient interest, and that depict or
represent in a manner patently offensive to minors any of the following: an
actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, an actual or simulated normal
or perverted sexual act or a lewd exhibition of reproductive organs.
Various studies demonstrate the negative impact playing violent and sexually
explicit video games has on minors. One such study, completed in 2003 by four
experts, including Douglas Gentile from the National Institute on Media and the
Family, concluded that adolescents who expose themselves to greater amounts of
video game violence were more hostile, reported getting into arguments with
teachers more frequently, were more likely to be involved in physical fights,
and performed more poorly in school.
The National Institute of Media and the Family recently found that 92 percent of
all children ages 2 to 17 play video games, and the average child spends 9 hours
each week playing them. The Institute also found that 87 percent of pre-teen and
teenage boys play games rated "M" for Mature by the Entertainment Software
Ratings Board. M-rated games often contain realistic depictions of human injury
and death, mutilation of body parts, rape, sex, profanity and drug, alcohol and
tobacco consumption.
"Our goal has always been to provide a greater measure of protection for our
children," said Sen. Demuzio. "I want to thank legislators from both sides of
the aisle who have worked extremely hard to implement legislation that will
place safeguards on violent video games."
"Until this measure became law," said Parent's Television Council Executive
Director Tim Winter, "retailers had no legal obligation about selling graphic,
harmful and severe video games to minors. A ten year old could purchase an adult
oriented video game. Many of these games portray the most graphic destruction
imaginable, images of violent, sexual, racist and sexist behavior that young,
impressionable children just should not see. When games award points for
murdering policemen and having sex with prostitutes, our children are receiving
a dangerous dose of negative values. We applaud the leadership undertaken by
Illinois and know that many other states will soon follow their example."
In December, Governor Blagojevich launched a website for parents,
www.safegamesIllinois.org, where they can learn about the effects of violent and
sexually explicit video games, report inappropriate video games, and report
Illinois retailers that are selling such games to minors.
The Governor also created the Safe Games Illinois Task Force to gather
information on the impact of violent and sexually explicit video games, develop
strategies for parents, and give recommendations to the Governor.
"It is very exciting that our legislature and our governor worked together to
sign this law that will give parents another tool to keep unwanted games out of
their households," said Deb Perryman, member of the Safe Games Illinois Task
Force and Illinois Teacher of the Year. "I am grateful that our leaders have
listened to parents about what is right for our kids, as opposed to listening to
the games industry."
"On behalf of parents, especially those with preteen and teenage children, I
thank the Illinois Legislators and the Governor for creating and passing the
Safe Games Illinois Act," said Mary Ann Topping, Springman Middle School PTA
President. "This legislation will help protect our children from the violent and
negative influences of these video games. We as parents and adults in society
need support to help us enforce the values and behaviors we want and expect from
our children and the Safe Games Illinois Act is a step in the right direction."
"With the realization that pornography is now available on popular video games,
efforts to educate parents, create policy to protect children, and fund research
about children and media have become more important than ever," said Dr. David
Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family.
"The people of Illinois have acted with compassion and foresight by choosing to
protect the physical, mental and social health of children," said Dr. Michael
Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital
Boston/Harvard Medical School. "Research shows that children become anxious,
desensitized and aggressive when they use violent media. Video games are
effective teaching tools and we need to decide what we want our children to
learn. As a pediatrician and a parent, I applaud the governor's efforts to give
parents and responsible adults the tools to raise healthy and safe children in
the Information Age."
"Parents are concerned because kids can easily get their hands on these violent
and sexually explicit video games. This commonsense, bipartisan bill will
prevent that," said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media. "The video game
industry has clearly not done enough to stop the marketing and sales of "M"
rated violent video games to kids and I applaud the Governor of Illinois for
helping to protect our kid's future."
HB 4023 is effective January 1, 2006.