Politics & Government

Diamond Bar Parent Reacts to Supreme Court's Violent Video Game Ruling

The Supreme Court voted today in a 7-2 decision to declare a proposed ban on selling or renting violent video games to children unconstitutional.

An attempt to ban violent video game sales and rentals to children under 18 met its final test after a Supreme Court ruling today.

The nation's highest court found in a 7-2 decision that the attempted ban violated the First Amendment right to free speech.

The original ban, which was passed in 2005, never went into effect because of an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte of San Jose.

Find out what's happening in Diamond Bar-Walnutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Supreme Court decision definitively keeps responsibility in the hands of parents.

Trichia Tran, president of the Diamond Bar MOMS Club North, said in an email that she thinks violent video games pose a distinct danger to all ages, especially to younger children.

Find out what's happening in Diamond Bar-Walnutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"These games are so popular and minors today want to be adults so young they are interested in adult games," Tran said. "I especially notice their addictiveness with five to 12 year olds."

Tran said that parents who are too busy or exhausted to plan family game nights or other activities can often let video games slide as a form of entertainment.

During the case — Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Assn. — the state argued that it has an obligation to protect children from the graphic, interactive images.

But the court's majority opinion, written by Justice Antonin Scalia, upheld that "like protected books, plays and movies that preceded them, video games communicate ideas — and even social messages."

"That suffices to confer First Amendment protection," Scalia wrote.

Bay City News contributed to this report.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here