Missouri Rep Proposes Violent Game Tax
See Full ImageOh goody, the violent game tax idea is back. Figured it would be after Newtown.
As reported by PC Gamer, Missouri representative Diane Franklin (R-123rd District) has introduced HB 157 to the state's General Assembly this week. It's a new bill that proposes putting a tax on violent video games. Yeah, that's right.
The idea is that all games rated T-Teen or above will carry a 1% excise tax, and the generated revenue will go towards the treatment of mental health conditions associated with "exposure to violent video games." The bill claims that "immediate action" is required in order to protect and insure the mental health of all those who play violent games, and it even goes so far as to say it's important for the "immediate preservation of public health, welfare, peace, and safety."
If you're wondering, this has been tried before; almost exactly one year ago, Oklahoma state representative Will Fourkiller (D.86th District) proposed a 1% excise tax on violent games, with the proceeds going to fighting obesity and bullying. There are multiple problems with such an idiotic idea (yeah, I said it- idiotic) but the first seems quite clear to me- Since when can you propose such a bill when there has been no confirmed documented link between video games and mental illness? And what are we taxing for, anyway, if the games in question are rated already? We're penalizing adults for purchasing products they're allowed to purchase?
Just...whatever.
Tags: violent video games, violent games, violent game tax, hb 157
1/16/2013 11:20:07 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (31 posts)
manofchao5
Sunday, January 20, 2013 @ 3:48:36 AM
also bullshit on the tax because there is not proof that videogames are directly related to violent behavior but rather a number of factors and last but not least, tax the video games, better tax the fucking movies
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gumbi
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:53:47 AM
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booze925
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:56:52 AM
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If you ask me, this is a load of bull. Politicians are trying to find new, unconstitutional ways to cover their extensive spending and who better to use as a scapegoat than video games? And who better to believe them than the ignorant parents who refuse to take responsibility for the fact they themselves bought their child a violent media item?
Politics right?
Last edited by booze925 on 1/16/2013 11:58:10 AM
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JDC80
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 12:51:27 PM
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I don't believe playing multiple hours of violent games make someone grab a gun and shoot up a school. The problem we have elected officials that don't want to tackle the main problems of 1. The lack of proper mental health treatment and 2. lax gun rules.
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BTNwarrior
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 12:54:39 PM
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JROD0823
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:16:41 PM
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Last edited by JROD0823 on 1/16/2013 1:19:27 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:32:53 PM
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Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:09:15 PM
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Beamboom
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:35:49 PM
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slugga_status
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 1:57:32 PM
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Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:08:26 PM
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Temjin001
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:34:16 PM
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Last I knew there has been no correlation between the two. Doesn't evidence show that violent crimes amongst teens and young'uns decreased while violent video game sales have increased?
anyway, I think this is just another eye-roll worthy attempt of the government trying for a working citizen money grab. or it's cranky old grandma's and grandpa's writing their state reps about banning those terrible video games that CAUSE the violence they hear about on the Today Show. The reps now want to appease a portion of their voting base by drawing up proposals.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:37:07 PM
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xenris
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 3:43:04 PM
Yeah totally the games causing the violence....
I really wish I could speak to the world on this issue, because I have sooooooo many points to address I don't think that anyone could touch me(or half the people here) in a debate on the subject.
Video games don't make mentally ill people who then kill people, mentally ill people might play a game and then kill people though and THAT is what should be addressed. We should study mental health, and psychology more and analyze behavior pattern and developmental influences on children from the ages of birth to 5 or 6 when they are developing self esteem and their belief system.
Good lord I hope this nonsense disappears. If any of these things actually pass I will move to mars who's coming?
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Temjin001
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 6:03:47 PM
eating the apple fritter a moment ago washed that extra effort away =p
that's it. tax donuts an obesity tax!
EDIT:(Temjin's not obese if you were wondering;)
Last edited by Temjin001 on 1/16/2013 6:04:51 PM
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xenris
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 7:00:12 PM
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AcHiLLiA
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 2:50:34 PM
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Snorge
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 3:07:56 PM
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Knightzane
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 3:51:40 PM
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I have a couple of parents on my friends list. their kids as well. This dad and son play BF3 together. They invite me to go play and i do sometimes but then almost every weekend they go out and go camping or hunting or those types of things. Real cool dad. He knows his sons friends play these types of games but unlike the friends he spends time with his son. Makes me even more proud being on the ps3. I played halo 4 the other day and my god, the kids moved over to it from halo 3. "FU## YOU HACKER!" Gotta love the one hit melee thing now :D
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BikerSaint
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 5:02:14 PM
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Video games don't leave their discs/carts/digital files to venture out on killing sprees Mall shoppers, moviegoers, churchgoers, and/or any other mass-public areas, etc.
And Handguns or Rifles won't run over to massacre school children from now-defenseless "Gun Free" zones.
"Only criminals &/or mentally unstable people do"
What we really need is better mental-health care & screening that is paid in full just by knocking back all these politician's unscrupulous personal pork projects, & not burdening it's own citizens with more unjust & unyielding taxes.
Oh, and we also need better judges who are willing to dole out much harsher/longer sentences for those convicted of violent crime.
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tes37
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 5:51:22 PM
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Underdog15
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 6:47:26 PM
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Geobaldi
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 6:51:29 PM
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firesoul453
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 7:12:46 PM
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PHOENIXZERO
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 7:57:09 PM
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___________
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 4:19:53 AM
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BRILLIANT!
no wonder the countrys in the state it is, with these morons calling the shots.......
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PHOENIXZERO
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 7:56:12 PM
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Ather
Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 8:25:42 PM
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Mobius
Sunday, January 20, 2013 @ 4:26:11 AM
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kraygen
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 11:52:32 AM
Oh who am I kidding, parents will never do that.