Senator Yee Warns Parents Against Manhunt 2's Negative Effects

Ahead of the recent Halloween release of Manhunt 2, California Senator Leland Yee, who authored the state's unsuccessful law attempting to levy fines against retailers for the sale of extremely violent video games to minors, issued a statement urging parents to avoid the controversial, Mature-rated game. Said Yee, “Halloween already presents many safety concerns for parents. With the release of Manhunt 2, parents will now face a new challenge from the purveyors of violence.” He cited Federal Trade Commission reports that claim 42 percent of unaccompanied children aged 13 to 16 years of age can successfully purchase M-rated games. Manhunt 2 hit store shelves on the 31st of October, coinciding with the Halloween holiday, and the Senator's office fears the game's relatively low price point "is enticing for some parents and affordable for many minors." Over the summer, United States District Court Judge Ronald Whyte struck down the law authored by Senator Yee to fine retailers who failed to check IDs or show ratings labels, ruling it unconstitutional. The State of California is appealing the district court’s decision. Yee, who is also a child psychologist, said, “It is imperative that parents avoid purchasing this game for their children and always review the video games their children are playing. Ultra-violent, interactive video games such as Manhunt 2 can have negative effects on our children.”