Tikkabik

I sent this letter today to Mass. state representative Matt Patrick, whose name is attached to Mass. HB1423, which proposes restricting the sale of video games to minors. I cc:'d my rep, Jeff Perry, and the state senator responsible for this region, Bob O'Leary (both of whom I have voted for in the past). I'll let you know if anyone responds.

Sir:

I was very disappointed to see your name attached to HB1423, entitled “An act to restrict the sale of video games with violent content to minors.”

As you are fully aware, I am sure, similar legislation has been proposed in many other states, and virtually every bill has failed once it reached the judicial level. As politically appealing as it may be to propose legislation that restricts the sale of violent video games to minors – “Think of the children!” -- it is constitutionally untenable and it is bad public policy.

Those other failed bills ultimately have resulted in costly litigation put forth by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) – litigation that the states end up footing the bill for. At a time when we’re seeing enormous cutbacks as our new governor struggles to balance the budget, the last thing we need is an albatross like this taking up time on Beacon Hill and, inevitably, taking up time in the courts, as well as the state’s money.

It’ll be a financial drain that will ultimately amount to only a pyrrhic victory for the legislators like yourself who have decided to align themselves with this bill.

The adage “If you lie down with dogs you wake up with fleas” also comes to mind, as I understand this bill was drafted with the assistance of Florida attorney Jack Thompson, whose anti-video game industry antics border on the absurd. Aligning yourself with such a demagogue is a horrible strategic mistake. The man is poison.

I’d much rather see you and the other legislators who have attached their name to this bill work to increase public awareness of the existing rating system enforced by the ESRB; one that’s modeled after the motion picture industry’s voluntary system, which has been successful by any measure. The ESRB system is enforced by major national retailers which have a presence here on Cape Cod, including Best Buy and EBGames/GameStop.

In addition to being a 37 year old avid player of video games, I’m the father of three children, as well as a senior editor and “Game Room” columnist for a nationally distributed publication called Macworld magazine, so this is an area of particular interest for me, personally and professionally. If you or anyone else I’ve cc:’d this letter to have any questions or would like to have a dialogue about this, I’d welcome a phone call, letter or e-mail.