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Calif. Court Blasts Violent Game Ban

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 20, 2009 8:49 PM CST

(Newser) – A federal appeals court ruled today that violent video games can be sold to minors in California, GameSpot reports. Upholding a lower court's decision, the judges struck down a state law that sought to ban the sale of violent games to those under 18. The law violated free speech rights, said the three-judge panel, which dismissed research suggesting that such games lead to violent or anti-social behavior, the AP reports.

Video game sellers "are extremely gratified" by the decision, said Entertainment Merchants Association president Bo Andersen. He urged the state to ignore calls to take the fight to the Supreme Court: "The state should not acquiesce in this demand, particularly in light of its budget difficulties," he said. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who signed the law, was said to be reviewing the ruling,

A Best Buy customer rushes in to purchase a copy of the game Grand Theft Auto IV in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday, April 29, 2008. (AP Phoito/Paul Sakuma)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grimaces as he listens to a questions at a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In this image released by Rockstar Games, a scene is shown from "Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned," is shown. (AP Photo/Rockstar Games)

In this photo released by Rockstar Games shows a scene from Grand Theft Auto IV. (AP Photo/Rockstar Games)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

kati

Feb 21, 2009 10:33 PM CST

Parents are also raising their kids as hunters - now you got real blood!

Guest

Feb 21, 2009 4:03 AM CST

Are parents raising their kids or is the state? Just curious and wondering how kids are getting their hands on videogames their parents have told them they can't play, can't buy and cannot have in the house and cannot play with their friends...

Guest

Feb 21, 2009 12:41 AM CST

Entertainment Merchants Association President Bo Andersen urged the state to ignore calls to take the fight to the Supreme Court. Jeez Bo, afraid of a real fight?

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Calif. Court Blasts Violent Game Ban

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

free speech • Arnold Schwarzenegger • First Amendment • video violence • video games

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

1st Amendment v. Dogfight Video: High Court to Decide

Conviction rests on First Amendment status of animal abuse tapes

Arizona Bill Would Restrict Teachers' Speech

Proposed legislation would punish those who violate FCC standards

Occupy Los Angeles Protesters Can Avoid Trials...

...by taking a $355 class on free speech

Court: Call to Shoot Obama Is Free Speech

Court clears Walter Bagdasarian for exhorting people to 'shoot the [racial slur]'

Supreme Court Strikes Down Violent Video Game Ban

California law banned sale of violent games to minors

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?