Rockstar Games has had their fair share with attracting the attention of US lawmakers
Grand Theft Auto 5, known commonly as GTA 5, faces the threat of being banned if a new bill gets passed. But this isn’t the first time that the series and it’s developer Rockstar Games have rubbed the lawmakers and US government the wrong way, but there had been no issues for a while now. The latest news is that Rep. Marcus Evans Jr. from Chicago is looking to amend a law that goes all the way back to 2012 that prevents certain video games from being purchased by minors.
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The bill
Last week, Evans filed HB3531, which was an amendment that wants to not just van the sale of games featuring “psychological harm” and carjacking to minors, but for adults as well. Evans states that such games promote criminal activities, which will then hurt the community. Evans stated, “The bill would prohibit the sale of these games that promote the activities that we’re suffering from in our communities.”
Early Walker, the founder of Operation Safe Pump and the person who has worked with Evans on the bill says GTA 5 in particular has become an issue. Walker said that you can see the harsh similarities in car jackings when you compare the game to real-life incidents.
What this could mean
Aside from banning the sale of games that fall under the above criteria, this bill can also change the definition of what a “violent video game” is, or to be specific: “control a character within the video game that is encouraged to perpetuate human-on-human violence in which the player kills or otherwise causes serious physical or psychological harm to another human or animal.”
It is highly unlikely that the lawmakers would get their wishes granted especially since the world is filled with powerful politicians and criminals who have a tendency for violence without having played a single video game in their lives.
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