Ban On Distribution Of Violent Video Games To Minors Stuck Down

A federal appeals court has ruled that St. Louis County cannot restrict the distribution of violent video games to minors. The case before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis has ruled the ordinance violated the First Amendment rights of the video game industry. The ordinance outlawed sale or rental of violent or sexually explicit games to people under age 17 without parental approval. The law was never enforced, pending the outcome of the ruling which was being watched nationally. The industry challenged provisions regarding violence, but not sex, so the court dealt with just that issue.