G.T.A.? Can I see some ID, miss?

Editorial by Vagabond 'Tony' Carter

Rep. Jim Matheson (D) of Utah

It’s one of those things that seems as if it shouldn’t require a law, that should be just plain good sense. But Utah Rep. Jim Matheson(D) apparently feels otherwise. On the coattails of gun control law talks in the wake of tragedies this old topic raises its head again in the halls of Congress with Matheson’s introduction of “H.R.287 – Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act”. This bill, link here, would make the enforcement of the suggested age of the ESRB rating on video games a matter of law.

So let me see if I follow this right, Jim.

You don’t trust either the parents of children, or the sales persons to make intelligent choices as to what they will buy for / sell to kids? Last I checked a salesperson has every right to refuse a sale, and must justify that refusal to their boss. Last I checked it was a parents responsibility and right to choose and monitor their children’s choice in entertainment.  I must be wrong –  it’s the governments right. That right Jim?

Here’s a thought, Jim, instead of trying to legislate a morality that exists only from your point of view, let’s let the American people make choices, mistakes if they need to, and learn from them on their own. Let’s not burden the local GameStop with having to enforce a law (which an annoyed parent will simply bypass anyway by getting the game for Junior) and instead empower them to do as they have always been able to do: make up their own minds as to whom they will sell what to.

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Vagabond Carter