Cross criticizes violent video games

Posted by Mike Riopell on Wed, 02/06/2013 - 18:48

Doug T. Graham was at the availability for House Republican Leader Tom Cross Wednesday after Gov. Pat Quinn's speech.

As part of the discussion on gun control, Cross, of Oswego, targeted violent video games.

"There is no redeeming value in them," Cross said. "There's no reason in the world you should be playing those games. I think they are awful, they are disruptive and I don't think they should be played by anyone. I think they're bad"

Cross said he has seen his son play these violent video games. When asked by reporters why he allowed his son to play the games, Cross said he let his kids make decisions on their own and that his son has his own money to buy them.

Video games of course have come up in Illinois before. In 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to ban the sale of video games to minors in legislation carried by state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat.

Blagojevich's plan was eventually approved by lawmakers, only to be struck down in court as unconstitutional.

In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar California ban in 2011.

Cross didn't support a ban Wednesday, but we're guessing his frustration might be shared by a lot of parents.

What do you think?

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