SharkJumping

As detailed here, Minnesota today had its proposed law against sales of violent video games to minors thrown out by a state judge who, shock of all shocks, ruled it was unconstitutional.  This joins a long line of decisions against similar laws in states such as Illinois, California, Michigan and others.  I understand that it's an election cycle for the House and Senate, and that presidential contenders are already jockeying for position for 2008 on supposedly moral issues like this one (see Family Entertainment Protection Act post here), but this waste of taxpayer money and politician time is starting to get about as tiresome as debating constitutional amendments against flag burning. 

Violent video games are no different than violent movies - they have a voluntary industry-rating system which probably works as well as the movie one does, keeping most underage children from consuming inappropriate content.  As a parent of young children, I would definitely not like them to consume M rated games until they are old enough to understand the situation, but I also can't imagine why games should be singled out above movies, and apparently neither do judges in most states.