Indiana Game Bill Halted Over 1st Amendment Concerns

Despite earlier Indiana Senate approval of anti-violent game bill SB0238, the Associated Press now reports that the proposed legislation has been put on hold, and has been issued to a committee for further study. The bill, co-authored by Senators Vi Simpson and David C. Ford, proposes to fine retailers $1000 for selling or renting M or AO-rated games to minors. The legislation was passed by an Indiana Senate committee earlier this week following a video presentation of video game footage containing “obscene and racist language.” According to the report, the bill's progress was halted following a vote on Thursday over potential First Amendment concerns. SB0238 has now been sent to a study committee tasked with coming up with a new bill that could meet the aims of the original legislation yet remain constitutionally sound. Not to be dissuaded, however, the AP report noted that Simpson seemed steadfast in her desire to address the issue of restrictions surrounding violent video games, stating, "Eventually we're going to have to deal with it." Simpson had previously sponsored another Indiana game related bill in early 2006, though that proposed legislation was quickly dismissed due to a lack of support.