SYRACUSE - Lawmakers today called for passage of legislation that would prohibit the sale and rental of violent and sexually graphic video games to children under 18 at a press conference sponsored by the Assembly Minority Program Committee. The bill would also require that warning labels be placed on video game cases, informing purchasers of the game's lurid content.

"The material in most of these video games is degrading to women, promotes violence and is seriously inappropriate for children," said Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua), Vice Chair of the Program Committee and prime sponsor of the bill. "Parents are often not aware of the content of these games because there are insufficient details or warnings on the label. This bill will allow parents to make informed and conscious decisions before putting a violent and sexually explicit video in the hands of their children."

For an example of a particularly violent video game, the Assembly Members pointed out the popular Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which allows players to kill police officers and others with a gruesome variety of murder weapons, such as chainsaws, baseball bats and machetes. Players of the game can also score points by hiring prostitutes, robbing and brutally murdering them.

"While the state's financial situation has been a primary focus for government recently, there are other quality-of-life issues such as this that must be addressed," said Assemblyman Jeff Brown (R-Manlius). "Much of the material displayed in these games is not appropriate for children-in fact, many adults find it offensive."

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) added, "Children are impressionable and if many parents knew the content of these games-scoring points for killing police officers and assaulting women-they would not allow their children to have them. We are not trying to ban the games, but to make sure that parents are aware of their content."

The National Institute on Media and the Family recently rated Vice City among the top video games parents should avoid buying for children. However, over 1.4 million copies of the game were sold in just two days when it was released on October 21, 2002, and it is expected to reach 10 million in sales.

Although a video game ratings system exists, administered through the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), many children under 18 are still able to easily gain access to violent and sexually explicit games because policies for selling video games to youths differ from retailer to retailer and are voluntary.

"We are not trying to dictate what constitutes good parenting," said Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport). "But we are aware that many working families are not well informed of the nature of these games because there is no warning of their content. This bill will alert parents to their graphic nature."

"The job of being a parent is a most difficult one," said Assemblyman Marc Butler (R,C,I-Newport), Chairman of the Program Committee. "With that in mind, we want to make sure parents are properly informed of the content of these video games and we want to ensure the safety of our youth."

Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh joined the Minority Assembly members at the press conference to support of the legislation.

Specifics of the bill:

• Prohibits the sale or rental of video games to those under the age of 18 years that contain depictions of or glamorize suicide, rape, incest, commission of violent crimes, bestiality, violent racism, religious violence, sado-masochism, sexual assault, sexual activity, murder, morbid violence, and illegal use of drugs or alcohol
• Warning label to be affixed to the front of the outside packaging of videos that contain the previously mentioned depictions as a warning to parents and/or guardians of the content
• Restricts access to such video games in a manner determined by the retailer
• Civil penalty of up to $1,000 for retailers and manufacturers who knowingly violate the law
• Civil penalty of up to $1,000 against non-custodial adults who buy labeled games for a minor. In some cases the non-custodial adult may be prosecuted on charges of endangering the welfare of a child as defined under the penal law.
• Allows the Courts to confiscate any materials that lack clearly displayed warning labels and ratings
• Requires retailer to have a copy of the video game available for parents or guardians to view before purchasing
• Requires the showing of identification to prove the age of the person who wishes to purchase labeled video games
• Establishes an affirmative defense for retailers to show that the person who purchased the labeled video game produced identification establishing their age as 18 or older