Federal judge blocks Oklahoma video game law
updated 05:40 pm EDT, Thu October 12, 2006
Judge Blocks Oklahoma Law
Laws banning the sale of games to some or all of the public are not a new occurrence: we've seen nine such laws turned down by the US government. Thank Federal Court District Judge Robin Cauthron for adding a tenth to that list. The lawmaker today made an initial ruling that would block a recently-enacted Oklahoma video game law that would have taken effect on November 1st. Named Bill HB30004, if enabled it would have prevented any game with "inappropriate violence" - that is, gore without artistic, political, or scientific commentary attached - from being sold without being hidden from younger shoppers. Numerous groups, including the Entertainment Merchants Association, were up in arms regarding the law as they said it violated the First Amendment and effectively ignored the ESRB ratings system. The ruling is likely the precedent to declaring the law unconstitutional, so avid Oklahoman gamers can now breathe a (tentative) sigh of relief.
