SF 2171

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to commerce; banning the sale of video games 
  1.3             containing graphic violence to children; prohibiting 
  1.4             the public showing, display, or other exhibition of 
  1.5             video games containing graphic violence in specified 
  1.6             places; providing remedies; proposing coding for new 
  1.7             law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325I. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [325I.10] [VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES; PROHIBITIONS.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] As used in this section, the 
  1.11  term "graphic violence" means the depiction or representation of 
  1.12  death or severe injury, including, but not limited to: 
  1.13     (1) decapitation; 
  1.14     (2) dismemberment; 
  1.15     (3) repeated instances of bloodshedding; or 
  1.16     (4) grotesque cruelty; 
  1.17  in such a way that the depiction or representation shocks the 
  1.18  conscience of the community and exceeds the boundaries of what 
  1.19  should be tolerated in a civilized society. 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [PROHIBITED ACTS.] (a) No person may sell or 
  1.21  distribute a video game containing graphic violence to a person 
  1.22  under 18 years of age. 
  1.23     (b) No person may show, display, exhibit, or permit the 
  1.24  showing, display, or other exhibition of, a video game 
  1.25  containing graphic violence when the showing, display, or 
  1.26  exhibition is visible from any public street or public place. 
  2.1      (c) No person who operates a place of business in which 
  2.2   video games containing graphic violence are shown, displayed, or 
  2.3   exhibited may knowingly permit or allow any person under 18 
  2.4   years of age to patronize, visit, or loiter in that place of 
  2.5   business. 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [PENALTIES.] (a) A person who violates 
  2.7   subdivision 2 is guilty of a misdemeanor. 
  2.8      (b) The public and private remedies in section 8.31 apply 
  2.9   to violation of this section.