New Grand Theft Auto 4 & Michigans laws to protect kids.

Judge nixes Michigan law aimed at 'violent' games

Another source of shame for America - GTA4... Or so the state of Michigan would have you thinking. Thankfully, a federal judge comes to the rescue.

"A federal judge has overturned a Michigan law restricting the sale of violent video games, the most recent in a series of decisions that have gutted similar laws on free-speech grounds."

First, where did this law come from? Probably some right wing religious leader trying to make himself useful. Wouldn't be surprised if it was Al Sharpton himself (does al even have a job? How does he pay for that '07 jag?) .

Secondly, why should it be the responsibility of the state government, (passed on to stores that sell the games) to control your children? Where are the kids getting all this money to buy a plastation or x box , plus all the games? if a kid can work legally, seems said kid should be able to play GTA4.

If the kid you're worried about is under 15, perhaps we should be doing what we've done for generations - WATCH YOUR KID. Don't put responsibility off to the government. Don't blame the game makers. You only have yourself to blame if your kid grows up and steals cars and kills people. And if its someone else's kid you're worried about, MYOB or report them to children's services. Don't we have bigger things in life to be worried about? For instance, how are you going to find those 100 hours to beat GTA4...

Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507015

This news article reports that the 'pro-smacking lobby' failed to gain enough votes to repeal the 'acclaimed' anti-smacking law in New Zealand. Whats amazing to me as an Amercian is that there are laws necessary to prevent smacking. Why is it that enough adults have abused their authority as parents that the government must step in and control us? What kind of parents are there in New Zealand?

As a child, I was threatened with 'the belt'. My parent's parents threatened, and on occasion, beat them. Theres nothing like a good beating to deter bad behavior in children!

Now seriously, if you really do have to beat your kid to keep them in line, they probably deserved it. If you are a parent who needs to be told that you can't beat your kids, then you probably shouldn't be allowed to have kids in the first place. So we need laws to tell us when we can or can't drive a car or drink alcohol or smoke - but we let anybody raise a kid? I think we should drop this legislation all together and just have some sort of qualifier for potential parents - like a drivers test, but for mommies and daddies to be. Oops! Get cought having a kid with no license? Fine! Jail time! Take away that kid until you get licensed. Then we have no need for silly laws like this.