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N.J. Bill Would Make It Illegal For Kids To Buy Violent Video Games

By David Madden

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) – There's a bid in the New Jersey legislature to make it illegal for youngsters to purchase violent video games, at least on their own.

Given the rash of mass shootings in this country, Monmouth County Assemblyman Sean Kean says his plan, which failed a few years ago, might just pass now.

"The first reaction is we need to do gun control," said Kean. "Well, maybe we do. But we need to look at other components too."

If Monmouth County Assemblyman Sean Kean gets his way, retailers could face stiff fines if they sell games rated "mature" or "adults only" to anyone under 18. A second bill would permit those sales only if an adult is there and grants consent. A similar law in California was shot down a couple years ago by the feds.

"Even the Supreme Court, in looking at this issue, has said there's violence in some of the famous cartoons that many of us watched as kids," said Kean. "I'm sorry. I don't believe there's a correlation between Bugs Bunny and Grand Theft Auto."

Kean concedes the science that suggests a link between violent video games and mass shootings like the Connecticut school slayings may not be complete. But as long as there's debate over things like gun control, this should also be in the mix.

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