New York - The New York State Assembly has approved a bill, a similar version of which passed in the State Senate last week, that would ban the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors.

A compromise bill is now being negotiated, which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

"Psychological experts have concluded that violent video games can desensitize players to the real-life consequences of violent actions," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

"This legislation will protect our youngsters from being exposed to the detrimental impact of violent video games that promote depraved violence and brutalize and demean human beings."

The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), a trade group that includes 800 N.Y. video game retailers, was quick to deride the legislation.

"Nine similar proposals that have been enacted around the nation in recent years have all been blocked by federal courts on First Amendment grounds," said EMA president Bo Andersen.

"For such an ill- conceived and unconstitutional law, ignorance is no excuse."

Related Links:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/Press/20070530b

http://tinyurl.com/3cdyfm (GamePolitics)

http://tinyurl.com/2ph787 (EMA statement)