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Crackdown on Sales of M-rated Video Games to Minors
   posted 5:45 pm Wed May 07, 2008 - WASHINGTON
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Capitol Hill lawmakers focused on cracking down sales of mature-rated video games to minors.

"It really wouldn't change our life at all. It's just a way for a politician to make a name for themselves," said owner of Play N Trade store, Chris Anderson. 

The bill would make it mandatory for clerks to ID their customers before selling certain games. Anderson said he followed the Entertainment Software Association's rules and wouldn't sell any M-rated games to kids under seventeen.

In February of last year, ABC 7 took hidden cameras into eight video game retailers in the D.C. area and found that half of the retailers sold to the underage secret shoppers.

Sunny Cote, a school psychologist, supports the lawmakers, "If they make it up to the store clerks or whatever, they're more likely to wanna push their product and sell it to get dollars. So I think federal legislation would be a good thing."

"The way kids are today, and the kinds of things they're doing today, they're taking those games seriously," said Bernard Barber. 

Others said it should be parents, not politicians who should watch what kids buy. "Should it be law versus parental? That's a tough question. I hesitate to make extra laws."

The bill would also require a ratings system explanation to be posted in stores. The Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for enforcing the rules and violators could face up to a $5,000 fine.

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