US Representative Reintroduces Video Game Labeling Bill

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While we’re awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court on Schwarzenegger v. EMA, Representative Joe Baca (D-CA) has taken the initiative to reintroduce a bill to the House of Representatives that would require a warning label on all video games rated T, M, or AO by the ESRB. Baca introduced a similar bill in 2009, called the Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009, but it failed to gain support from the House.

The warning mandated by the bill would read: “WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.” Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) co-sponsored the original bill in 2009 and has decided to back this iteration as well.

“Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents – and children – about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent video games and violent behavior,” Wolf said. “As a parent and grandparent, I think it is important people know everything they can about the extremely violent nature of some of these games.”

Of course, the evidence they cite is conflicting at best – and actually, an increasing amount of research is finding that there’s no direct link between video games and violent behavior. But hey, what is the American government for if not to replace organizations that already do their job effectively and efficiently, right? …Right?