NCAC Applauds Utah Governor’s Veto

 The National Coalition Against Censorship this week applauded Utah Governor Jon Huntsman’s decision to veto bill House Bill 353 and called on the Utah Senate and House of Representatives to uphold the veto. The bill was crafted with the help of former ambulance chaser Jack Thompson, who was supposed to make it “constitutionally sound.” The bill made it past the state lawmakers almost unanimously, but the governor apparently didn’t agree.

“We are glad to see the Governor demonstrate his respect for the First Amendment, and we hope that the legislature follows,” said Joan Bertin, Director of the NCAC. “This decision should send a signal to other states considering similar proposals to enforce voluntary age ratings and recommendations on video games, movies, and books.”

The NCAC urged the Utah legislature to follow the Governor’s lead - they have until mid-May to override the veto. The legislature is expected to decide on holding a vote to override the veto as early as next Wednesday. NCAC is asking its members to urge their Representatives and Senators to vote with the governor and sustain the veto. No doubt organizations like the ECA and ESA are mobilizing their membership to do the same by phone, email, carrier pigeon and smoke signal.

Utah Attorney General: Bring It On, Thompson!

Snap, snap! It’s already been brought! No this is not the beginning of a cheer-off between former lawyer turned unemployed activist Jack Thompson and currently employed Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff - if only, right? Speaking to Game Politics (better known as JTNN), The AG of Utah brushes off some recent Thompson threats to “proceed” if his office doesn’t “take action against major retailers like Best Buy, Target and Wal-mart for alleged sales of Grand Theft Auto IV to minors.”

Here’s the full measure of Mark Shurtleff had to say (the most important part to us, anyway):

.. I’m not concerned about his threats of impeachments or lawsuits or anything else. I just won reelection by 70% of the vote and he himself is facing his own troubles out there [in Florida]. So, whatever, bring it on, Jack. I’m really not going to give it much thought, frankly.”

And there we are.. but with all due respect to the Utah AG, you’re not doing a very good job of ignoring him.

Utah Game Law Passes

Those hoping that Jack Thompson’s influence on video game legislation in Utah would dissipate like his legal career in Florida will be dismayed to hear that the ill he helped author has passed the Utah House of Representatives with an almost overwhelming vote of 70 - 2. The bill passed similarly through the Utah Senate with very little resistance.

The bill, sponsored by Utah Rep. Mike Morley, will have to be signed by the governor Jon Huntsman to become law and survive the inevitable legal challenge that the ESA will bring before the Utah courts.

The new law attempts to enforces stricter penalties on retailers who sell M-rated games and R-rated movies to “buyers subject to an age restriction or recommendation,” though how the state can enforce such a law is beyond my understanding.

thanks, Joystiq.

ESRB President Issues Open Letter to Utah

ESRB president Patricia Vance has written an open letter to Utah Lawmakers and parents in a last ditch effort to appeal to some common sense - as she sees it. The letter is response to a law that was drafted with the help of Jack Thompson, who has shifted seamlessly from game hating ambulance chaser to full fledged anti-gaming campaigner.

This probably marks the first time in many years that Thompson has successfully helped produce something that could affect consumers and game makers. The legislation fines retailers and movie theaters that knowingly provide M or R rated products to minors. Yes, we know that the language of the law is vague.. ESRB President Patricia Vance’s letter after can be found after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Utah Kids Play Games to Learn Internet Safety

A new pilot program sponsored by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Web Wise Kids is helping train teachers and students on Internet safety by using videogames in 75 Utah schools. The ESA is helping hand out Internet safety computer games to Jordan, Granite, Murray, Salt Lake and Alpine school districts. The program, which is strongly supported by Utah’’s Attorney General and the state legislature, teaches adults and kids that harmless online fun can lead to bad things and bad people.

Sally Jefferson, senior director of state government affairs for ESA, noted in the Salt Lake Tribune that the key reason for focusing on Utah schools is that it has more computers in households per capita than anywhere else in the country. Web Wise Kids and the ESA have been working together for the past six years. The ESA helped launch the program in Utah with a $75,000 grant.