New Jersey To Introduce Violent Game Legislation

According to a report from the Associated Press, New Jersey has become latest state to consider localized legislation against violent or sexually explicit video games, following the announcement of a proposed bill at proceedings being held at the New Jersey Statehouse. Democratic Assembly members Linda Stender and Jon Bramnick announced that they will introduce a bill making it illegal for video game store owners to sell or rent "ultra-violent and sexually explicit" games to anyone under the age of 18, and will ask for fines starting at $50, moving up to $250 for repeated offences. This move mirrors similar, but sometimes even harsher state-specific legislation from other states over the previous few weeks. These include California, where Leland Yee's bill passed the legislature earlier this month, and awaits signing by Governor Schwarzenegger, and Michigan, where a violent gaming bill was signed into law by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. The video game trade organization the ESA has already filed suit against the Michigan law. The New Jersey bill will also require video game shop owners to prominently display, by law, information on the ESRB ratings system. However, the bill has not yet been introduced to be voted on, so is relatively early in its life compared to the California and Michigan bills.