An advertisement for the new Grand Theft Auto is displayed outside of a gaming store on January 11, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
SUSAN HAIGH
Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut lawmakers are being urged to forbid arcades and other establishments from allowing children under 18 to operate point-and-shoot video games on their premises.
The bill, which also creates a task force to study the effects of violent video games on youth behavior, was discussed Tuesday during a public hearing before the Legislature’s Children’s Committee.
New Haven Sen. Toni Harp said she has no doubt there’s a link between such games and violent behavior exhibited by youth. She said they desensitize children to gun violence.
A group of media trade associations known as Media Coalition, Inc., calls the bill unconstitutional, saying video games are fully protected speech.
The 20-year-old man who killed 26 children and educators in Newtown played violent video games but it’s unclear what lead to the massacre.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.



