5/2/2008Lynch to parents: Beware of Grand Theft Auto
by John O'BrienPROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - One of the most anticipated video games ever made, recently released Grand Theft Auto IV is not for young players, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch said this week.
A record-breaking amount of copies of the game were sold in the United Kingdom on its release date. The game is rated "M" and is intended for mature audiences because of blood, intense violence, nudity, strong language and drug and alcohol use.
"As video games become more realistic and in many cases, more violent, parents must become more vigilant before buying them or letting their children use them," Lynch said.
"Also, retailers and salespeople have a responsibility to better inform parents how violent these games actually are. Grand Theft Auto IV is obviously rated 'M' for a reason, and parents need to keep a game like this away from their kids."
Lynch said a study performed last year found that 72 percent of parents don't understand game ratings.
Rockstar Games is expected to earn more than $400 million in sales from the game in Grand Theft Auto's first week on the shelves.
Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama
recently addressed the game at a campaign stop in Indiana.
"I was just catching the news this morning about Grand Theft Auto, this video game, which is gonna break all records and make goo-gobs of money for whoever designed it," he said.
"Now, this isn't intended for kids, although I promise you there are kids who are playing it.
"But these video games are raising our kids. Across the board, middle-class, upper-class, working-class kids, they're spending a huge amount of their time not on their studies, but on entertainment."
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State AGsComments on this article
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Parental Rights |
Obviously I am missing something here. I do not know where the previous people's kids go to school, but my son attends school in California. I do not see where there is no evidence. Television is part of the problem, but so is violent video games. Do you really feel people are as polite today as they were 20 or 30 years ago? We have come a long way in human rights, but we have taken a long step backwards in the areas of respect and manners. A game that displays and rewards bad behavior is is much worse example than a tween idol who made a mistake and admitted it and apologized for her error. Car jacking is a serious crime and to reward someone for it in a video game, and presents graphic violence will desensitize people to such acts in the same way that Porn devalues women.
On maturity, I would expect that if kids can be mature enough to handle this topic, then they are mature enough to marry, or go to war? I was upset when those polygamists were found to be marrying children as young as 13. Is this acceptable? If so, then I guess I must accept your opinion on the matter. |
| - Floyd (5/6/2008 10:08:43 AM) |
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Who gave you permission to raise my child? |
"As video games become more realistic and in many cases, more violent, parents must become more vigilant before buying them or letting their children use them."
No moron, they don't have to. It's entirely possible that the child is mature enough to handle the subject matter. It's up to the parents to decide what their children are capable of, not the government. I find your "parental orders" a unwelcome violation of my parental rights.
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| - Vinzent (5/5/2008 1:21:05 AM) |
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what? |
| Dan, that's how you decide to end your article? with a false opinionated statement about video games raising our kids and taking them away from academics with absolutely no evidence or support? How about worrying more about the much more destructive media source known as Television programs. For example, teenagers being raised by Paris Hilton, and first graders who are raised by Miley Cyrus. Theres where the real damage is being done. |
| - Bryan (5/3/2008 4:39:25 AM) |
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