February is Girl Scout Video Game Legislation Month
Cookies, anyone?
The Frederick News-Post reports that Girl Scouts from around Maryland gathered at the state capitol last week to sit in on legislative sessions, meet delegates, and participate in a mock legislative debate.
And perhaps sell a few boxes of Thin Mints along the way?
As part of a program sponsored by the Maryland Girl Scout Legislative Coalition, two hundred scouts took to the House floor to get a first hand taste of the political process. The topic of the Girl Scouts' mock debate, fining adults who buy mature-rated games for their children, was peripherally related to Maryland's proposed video game legislation.
Scout Alexandra Asuncion of Frederick played the role of House Speaker, directing the debate.
"It was really fun," she said. "I liked it because you could see what it would be like to be the speaker."
Other girls scouts, acting as delegates, made some telling points from the House floor.
"What's the point of an adult getting a fine for buying it for their children when it was their choice?" argued seventh-grader Kendall Bille.
That's not to imply that the Girl Scouts of America are against game legislation. The organization was a major backer of California Assembly Speaker pro tem Leland Yee's successful effort to pass a video game law in 2005. Yee's bill, signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, was blocked by a federal court in December pending the video game industry's appeal on First Amendment grounds. Its fate now rests with federal judge Ronald Whyte.
"Parents should be given the opportunity to decide if they want these violent games in their homes," said Rhonda Gruska, Government Relations Director of the Girl Scout Councils of California in an April 2005 press release.
-Andrew Eisen