PRINTER'S NO. 1080
No. 75 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, MURPHY, CONTI, STOUT, BODACK, COSTA,
STAPLETON, BELL, TOMLINSON, EARLL, O'PAKE, BOSCOLA, KITCHEN,
MOWERY, TARTAGLIONE AND GREENLEAF, MAY 10, 1999
REFERRED TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MAY 10, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Congress of the United States to require video and
2 computer game providers to have these products rated by the
3 Entertainment Software Ratings Board.
4 WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
5 Pennsylvania recognizes that within the last ten years the video
6 game market, particularly the use of home video game systems,
7 has exploded throughout this Commonwealth and the nation; and
8 WHEREAS, Video games are available to children not only at
9 traditional places of business specializing in amusement but
10 also through a variety of retail outlets and magazine sales for
11 home use and by communication on the Internet; and
12 WHEREAS, Improvements to the picture, speed and resolution of
13 the new age of video games have made the depiction of
14 characters, places and events contained in the games amazingly
15 realistic; and
16 WHEREAS, Improvements to video games have made the games
17 increasingly interactive for the user to maximize the
18 involvement of the player; and
1 WHEREAS, Some, but not all, video games contain graphic and
2 repeated scenes of violence which include decapitation,
3 bloodshed, dismemberment, killing and death by the use of lethal
4 weapons or hand-to-hand combat; and
5 WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that violent crime
6 is a serious and persistent problem in our society, especially
7 among our youth; and
8 WHEREAS, The General Assembly further recognizes that, as
9 confirmed by current scientific data, the repeated exposure to
10 graphic violence and participation in violent interactive games
11 may contribute to violent behavior by our youth and desensitizes
12 them to acts of violence; and
13 WHEREAS, Information regarding the content of graphic
14 violence contained in movies and television programs as well as
15 information regarding the lyrics of music is provided to
16 consumers and parents so that they may make choices concerning
17 the depiction of violence and whether they elect to have their
18 children exposed to such content; and
19 WHEREAS, Video game manufacturers have organized the
20 Entertainment Software Ratings Board to provide information
21 regarding video and computer games and to rate such games into
22 recommended age-use groups; therefore be it
23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
24 urge the Congress of the United States to use its authority to
25 require the creators, manufacturers, distributors and retailers
26 of video and computer games to submit such products to the
27 Entertainment Software Ratings Board for review and rating of
28 new games that enter the marketplace, including those which are
29 offered for use and sale on the Internet; and be if further
30 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to each
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1 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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