Yee: Game bill will go to the Supreme Court
Last week, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the state of California's case in defense of its overturned violent game restriction law. While a ruling on that case might not come for months, the author of the bill thinks the judge's decision won't settle anything. Earlier today,...
Last week, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the state of California's case in defense of its overturned violent game restriction law. While a ruling on that case might not come for months, the author of the bill thinks the judge's decision won't settle anything.
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Earlier today, California State Senator Leland Yee visited GameSpot's offices for an appearance on Tuesday's HotSpot podcast. During more than a half-hour of conversation about the disputed law and the state's role in parenting, Yee said he doesn't believe either the state of California nor the Entertainment Software Association would accept defeat at this point.
"However the Ninth Circuit's going to rule on this matter, I think either side is going to appeal this," Yee said. "It's going to go to the Supreme Court. Hopefully, what we're going to end up [with] in California and throughout the nation is a balance. How do you protect the first amendment and ensure there's not going to be limitations on the free expression of individuals' desires and wants and creativity when developing these games but at the same time protect our kids and the general public?"
As for whether a flood of constituent complaints could persuade Yee to drop the matter, the politician suggested this was one issue where voter outcry would not change his mind.
"There is an organized effort to let me know very clearly that a lot of the gamers are not supportive of what I'm doing," Yee said. "I'm not trying to be arrogant or disrespectful toward them, but I am a legislator myself. And I need to look at what is also right. Leadership is sometimes not about simply putting your finger in the political wind and seeing how everybody feels. Rather, it's having some hard, core values as to what you think is appropriate and right and trying to do the right thing."
[UPDATE]: The full interview can now be heard in this week's edition of The HotSpot.
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