More US states consider videogame bills

Maryland and Indiana have been added to the list of states which are considering introducing a new law that would prevent the sale of games with violent or mature content to minors.

Two bills will be put before Maryland's General Assembly, the first of which is sponsored by Republican senator Wade Kach. The bill proposes that those who sell Adults Only-games to minors should face a fine of at least USD 5000 and up to 12 months imprisonment.

The second bill, sponsored by Democratic senator Justin Ross, is thought to be based on California AB1179 - the controversial piece of legislation which was approved by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, only to have its introduction later halted by a preliminary injunction.

Ross's "HB 54" bill claims that minors who are exposed to violence in videogames are "more likely to experience feelings of aggression, to experience a reduction of activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, and to exhibit violent antisocial or aggressive behavior."

"Even minors who do not commit acts of violence suffer psychological harm from prolonged exposure to violent videogames," the bill reads.

If approved, HB 54 would ensure that games were labelled with new, non-ESRB content ratings, and that retailers who broke the law faced a USD 1000 fine. The fine would not apply to sales clerks, however, but to managers or others who "have an ownership interesting in the business where the violation occurred."

In Indiana, Senator Dennis Kruse is sponsoring a bill which would also fine retailers for selling inappropriate games to minors, and Senator Vi Simpson has announced plans to draw up her own bill.

"Right now, kids can walk into just about any store and get their hands on a video game in which they can shoot police officers, use drugs, steal cars, rape women or even assassinate a president. That's frightening to say the least," Simpson said.

Politicians in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Delaware have all attempted to introduce similar bills. However, the California, Michigan and Illinois bills have already been either rejected outright or temporarily halted, and the senators proposing the new bills in Maryland and Indiana could face a tough fight.