Washington D.C. City Council Holds Hearing on Video Game Bill Today
In the latest round of video game legislation, the Washington, D.C. City Council will hold hearings today on Bill 16-0125. The bill, proposed by District 4 Councilman Adrian Fenty (seen at left), would require D.C. businesses that sell or rent video games to obtain an "entertainment endorsement" to the city's standard business license.
Retailers would be barred from renting games rated "M" (mature) or "AO" (adults only) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). "M"-rated games are intended for users 17 and older, while "AO" games are intended for adult users. The bill also requires that retailers display the ESRB's rating system. Businesses who violate the provisions of the bill could be fined up to $2,000. Fines for additional violations could be as high as $10,000.
Today's hearing will be held at 10:00 A.M. before the Council's Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. The full text of the bill is available online.
Some in the gaming community have taken issue with the language in the bill, which includes the following sweeping characterizations of video games:
"The ultra-violent and sexually explicit content of video and computer games rated M and AO violate contemporary community standards, and, taken as a whole, appeal to prurient interests and morbid and depraved interest in violence in minors."
...and...
"Video games rated M and AO by the ESRB, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value to minors."
Councilman Fenty, a Democrat, has announced that he is running for mayor in 2006.