§ 12A-5 — Findings

(a) The General Assembly finds that minors who play violent video games are more likely to: (1) Exhibit violent, asocial, or aggressive behavior. (2) Experience feelings of aggression. (3) Experience a reduction of activity in the frontal lobes of the brain which is responsible for controlling behavior. (b) While the video game industry has adopted its own voluntary standards describing which games are appropriate for minors, those standards are not adequately enforced. (c) Minors are capable of purchasing and do purchase violent video games. (d) The State has a compelling interest in assisting parents in protecting their minor children from violent video games. (e) The State has a compelling interest in preventing violent, aggressive, and asocial behavior. (f) The State has a compelling interest in preventing psychological harm to minors who play violent video games. (g) The State has a compelling interest in eliminating any societal factors that may inhibit the physiological and neurological development of its youth. (h) The State has a compelling interest in facilitating the maturation of Illinois' children into law-abiding, productive adults.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 94-315, eff. 1-1-06 .)