Bill Banning Sale Of Violent Video Games To Minors Passes In Illinois House

By Sam Bakken in News on Mar 18, 2005 8:01PM

On Wednesday the Illinois House passed bill HB4023 or as we've decided to call it, "Blago's Baby". The bill would ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors and violations could result in up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $5,0000. How one defines "violent" or "sexually explicit" and whether or not violent video games actually encourage violent behavior in minors are the core of the debate. The New York Civil Liberties Union's Robert Perry gave testimony to the New York City Council last year when they discussed two resolutions similar to "Blago's Baby" last year and gives the idea a fairly thorough thrashing. You can read his testimony here.

Despite the debate, the bill passed 91-19, with six members voting "present". It has moved on to the Senate.

And now ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, the first nominee for Chicagoist's annual "Most Hilarious Back-And-Forth Between Legislators" award.

From the Tribune:

Under the bill, retailers would be forbidden from selling or renting to teenagers video games that are sexually explicit or that depict images of human-on-human violence. Does that mean games that merely blast space creatures are OK? asked Rep. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago).

"Killing an alien wouldn't fall under the bill," said Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), the sponsor.

Would that apply to all aliens or only those who "just look like humans?" Molaro then asked.

"If it's an alien that looks like a human, which is an alien, yes," Chapa LaVia responded.

Later, she refined her interpretation this way: "If it was an alien that pretended to be a human, I guess then it's human. Then it would fall under this bill because it's human against human. ... How would we know he was an alien?"