Ben-DutkaOh goody, the violent game tax idea is back. Figured it would be after Newtown.
As reported by PC Gamer , Missouri representative Diane Franklin (R-123rd District) has introduced HB 157 to the state's General Assembly this week. It's a new bill that proposes putting a tax on violent video games. Yeah, that's right.
The idea is that all games rated T-Teen or above will carry a 1% excise tax, and the generated revenue will go towards the treatment of mental health conditions associated with "exposure to violent video games." The bill claims that "immediate action" is required in order to protect and insure the mental health of all those who play violent games, and it even goes so far as to say it's important for the "immediate preservation of public health, welfare, peace, and safety."
If you're wondering, this has been tried before; almost exactly one year ago, Oklahoma state representative Will Fourkiller (D.86th District) proposed a 1% excise tax on violent games, with the proceeds going to fighting obesity and bullying. There are multiple problems with such an idiotic idea (yeah, I said it- idiotic) but the first seems quite clear to me- Since when can you propose such a bill when there has been no confirmed documented link between video games and mental illness? And what are we taxing for, anyway, if the games in question are rated already? We're penalizing adults for purchasing products they're allowed to purchase?
Just…whatever.
It's dumb on the one hand, but on the other hand maybe parents will actually start to pay attention to what it is they buy their kids.
Oh who am I kidding, parents will never do that.
HA.
lol I place $20 that the local game sales will plumet while amazon will experience hearty growth
also bullshit on the tax because there is not proof that videogames are directly related to violent behavior but rather a number of factors and last but not least, tax the video games, better tax the fucking movies
This is so painfully ridiculous. I'm at a loss for words…
What these politicians fail to understand is the the ESRB system is in place to PREVENT minors from purchasing games with violent content. On every T or M rated game, it even lists what kind of mature content is in the game so parents can stay informed. So even IF there was a link between violence and violent video games (which I think is completely absurd) who should be at fault? The entire gaming community or the irresponsible parents who buy their 12-year old kid a copy of Call of Duty every year?
If you ask me, this is a load of bull. Politicians are trying to find new, unconstitutional ways to cover their extensive spending and who better to use as a scapegoat than video games? And who better to believe them than the ignorant parents who refuse to take responsibility for the fact they themselves bought their child a violent media item?
Politics right?
Last edited by booze925 on 1/16/2013 11:58:10 AM
Game stores ask for ID if someone wants to buy a M rated game, when I was 27 the girl at the GameStop ask me for a ID when I tried to buy Ninja Gaiden sigma.
I don't believe playing multiple hours of violent games make someone grab a gun and shoot up a school. The problem we have elected officials that don't want to tackle the main problems of 1. The lack of proper mental health treatment and 2. lax gun rules.
Why would my state embarrass me like this?
As long as it stays in Missouri, I don't care what she does to ruin her state. Following with my critical sounding comment theme today, politicians are idiots. Yes, all of them.
Last edited by JROD0823 on 1/16/2013 1:19:27 PM
I'm curious to know where all that money would go? To the 3 people who are actually addicted to video games?
I used to be addicted, but the I took life to the knee.
This is what happens when one refuse to touch the *real* problem, and feels one have to do *something*.
As bad as the school systems are here in Missouri you'd think putting that extra 1% towards education might get it to pass. Smdh
I doubt our money is going to where they say its going. They will most likely use that tax money for something else.
wait a minute. so they're saying they're taxing to treat those who are mentally ill because of violent video games?
Last I knew there has been no correlation between the two. Doesn't evidence show that violent crimes amongst teens and young'uns decreased while violent video game sales have increased?
anyway, I think this is just another eye-roll worthy attempt of the government trying for a working citizen money grab. or it's cranky old grandma's and grandpa's writing their state reps about banning those terrible video games that CAUSE the violence they hear about on the Today Show. The reps now want to appease a portion of their voting base by drawing up proposals.
That's how clueless about facts these people are, they honestly think media drives people insane just like Rock n Roll in the old days.
Crime rate is decreasing, gaming is more popular then ever and the most popular games are rated M.
Yeah totally the games causing the violence….
I really wish I could speak to the world on this issue, because I have sooooooo many points to address I don't think that anyone could touch me(or half the people here) in a debate on the subject.
Video games don't make mentally ill people who then kill people, mentally ill people might play a game and then kill people though and THAT is what should be addressed. We should study mental health, and psychology more and analyze behavior pattern and developmental influences on children from the ages of birth to 5 or 6 when they are developing self esteem and their belief system.
Good lord I hope this nonsense disappears. If any of these things actually pass I will move to mars who's coming?
reading the headline at the gym today made me workout harder…
eating the apple fritter a moment ago washed that extra effort away =p
that's it. tax donuts an obesity tax!
EDIT:(Temjin's not obese if you were wondering;)
Last edited by Temjin001 on 1/16/2013 6:04:51 PM
Hahaha well put. They should put a health risk tax on all fast food restaurants too. Because you know cardiovascular disease kills way more people a year than guns do, and almost all cardiovascular disease can be avoided with proper diet and you know lifting heavy stuff and running around for a little bit through out the week, its not rocket science 😛
What if you go to the store buy a rated teen or above game, show them your license or ID whichever, will they still charge you 1% extra? Looks like they will, that sucks.
Are you serious!? I am embarrassed to be in this state right now. That's saying alot after the Chiefs' last season….
I want to start a petition. For every mother and father who 'care so much about their kids' should have to pay a tax for buying games rated M. Imagine the midnight releases. Oh man, if something like that would pass, i would so drive down and sit in my car and watch how many parents would NOT show up. Parenting isn't telling your kids to go play video games. Its about spending time with them and showing them things outside of the house. Not getting them xbox live and buying them the latest CoD.
I have a couple of parents on my friends list. their kids as well. This dad and son play BF3 together. They invite me to go play and i do sometimes but then almost every weekend they go out and go camping or hunting or those types of things. Real cool dad. He knows his sons friends play these types of games but unlike the friends he spends time with his son. Makes me even more proud being on the ps3. I played halo 4 the other day and my god, the kids moved over to it from halo 3. "FU## YOU HACKER!" Gotta love the one hit melee thing now 😀
Due to all their own personal self-absorbed nanny-state self-agendas politicians are so out of touch with America that they keep grasping at anything that will get themselves bigger & longer soundbites.
Video games don't leave their discs/carts/digital files to venture out on killing sprees Mall shoppers, moviegoers, churchgoers, and/or any other mass-public areas, etc.
And Handguns or Rifles won't run over to massacre school children from now-defenseless "Gun Free" zones.
"Only criminals &/or mentally unstable people do"
What we really need is better mental-health care & screening that is paid in full just by knocking back all these politician's unscrupulous personal pork projects, & not burdening it's own citizens with more unjust & unyielding taxes.
Oh, and we also need better judges who are willing to dole out much harsher/longer sentences for those convicted of violent crime.
I think Diane Franklin should be evaluated for mental illness. It wouldn't hurt anyone to have her checked out. She might just be retarded.
There are mental health illnesses directly and exclusively caused by exposure to violent video games? Maybe they should spend that 1% on done legit research…
Not only this, but today our lovely President asked Congress for $10 million to perform a violent video game study.
They do realize it isn't illegal to sell video games without ratings?
Not illegal in North America but if you don't go through the ESRB chances are stores won't carry it just as they won't carry AO rated games.
so instead of trying to find prevention to the problem in the first place, lets just focus on finding ways to deal with it once its developed.
BRILLIANT!
no wonder the countrys in the state it is, with these morons calling the shots…….
The part where this fails is that it's been tried more than once in the past and multiple times before and failed. It's also unconstitutional. If those feelgood legislation idiots actually go through with it enjoy the wasted tax dollars Missouri!
I say Gamers unit and raise money to treat the mental illness of Congressmen and Congresswoman who think violent vidoe games are the cause of all society's woes, despite no scientific proof thereof.
I would like to propose a One Million Dollar Fee to be levied upon any politician that proposes ridiculous, pointless, petty or just plain STUPID legislation. If we start now and apply the proceeds to the national debt, we should be paid in full by Feb. 1st!