Oklahoma Video Game Violence Bill Targeted By VGVN

The ESA game trade association-sponsored Video Game Voters Network (VGVN) has sent out its first ever email alert to members in response to Oklahoma's pending video game legislation HB3004, which was authored by Republican State Representative Fred Morgan and passed unanimously by both the House and Senate. The bill is currently on its way to Governor Brad Henry, after a minor amendment has sent it back to the House for a relatively routine approval. Once on his desk, he has five days to sign the bill into law. If the bill is signed, it will become a law on November 1, 2006. According to web site GamePolitics, the email alert issued by the VGVN reads in part: "The effect of legislation seeking to regulate games would stifle constitutionally-protected creativity in a medium that is at the cutting-edge of innovative entertainment. This is why we need your help. Although you don't live in Oklahoma, you may know someone who does! Please spread the word about the VGVN and this legislation to anyone in your family, clan, MMORPG, forum or work who lives in Oklahoma." HB3004 takes a similar stance as Utah Republican David Hogue’s HB257 “Games as Porn” bill, which was dropped by the Senate in March, but would have made it a felony to knowingly exhibit or sell violent video games to minors. This new bill seeks to amend an existing Oklahoma statute that defines things deemed "harmful to minors” such as pornography by adding the term "inappropriate violence” to what is found to be unsuitable for minors according to “contemporary community standards.” Established on March 13, the VGVN bills itself as a "grassroots organization" for adults who play games, seeking to make their voices heard on the increasing number of anti-game bills circulating in several state and even federal branches of legislation.