Wisconsin senator wants to tax gaming

[Galaki]

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Proposed Law Would Tax Video Games, Equipment

Lawmakers: Bill's Real Duty To Move 17-Year-Olds To Juvenile Court

UPDATED: 12:25 pm CST December 24, 2007

MADISON, Wis. -- Electronics might be the hot item on all gift lists this holiday, but it's also on the list of some lawmakers.

A proposed bill in Wisconsin would add an extra sales tax to electronics.

Dedicated gamer Justin Sallows said the tax doesn't sit well with him.

"I think that's a real problem," said Sallows. "Even if that's not what the intention is, it creates the impression that there's something wrong with the video games because we need to put some extra tax on there to try to dissuade people from playing them."

The bill's author, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, said the money raised from the tax isn't to dissuade gamers, but to help cover the cost to move 17-year-olds, who commit non-violent crimes, back into the juvenile system. Currently, 17-year-olds are treated as adults, WISC-TV reported.

The costs for the move could be substantial, Erpenbach said.

"No. 1, I think it's the right thing to do because not all 17-year-olds belong in the adult system when it comes to non-violent offenses," said Erpenbach. "But secondly, in the long run, the numbers show that if you treat certain situations in a juvenile delinquent-type of a setting, as opposed to an adult setting, chances are there's going to be less of a problem when the kid gets older."

But the part of the bill getting the most attention is the video game tax."The idea being that this is kind of a kids-kids thing, in other words, if we're going to do this for kids maybe this would be a good way to go about it. And if it's not the best way, I'm open to any other way," he said.

One mother, out buying games for her kids, said the idea seemed sound.

"I think I'm going to buy them anyway even if the extra money is there," said Katie Humbolt. "So, I think it's a good way."But Sallows disagrees. At age 37, he said it's not only children getting the games.

 But Sallows disagrees. At age 37, he said it's not only children getting the games.

"I just think it's pretty unfair to attack gamers and have them pay for something they, more than likely, have nothing to do with," said Sallows.

Erpenbach said at this point, he's not sure how much it would cost to move non-violent 17-year-olds to the juvenile system.

The cost could be substantial considering state records show that of the approximately 30,000 17-year-olds arrested each year, 98 percent are charged with minor offenses.

Lawmakers are also not sure how much the tax would generate.

 Nationwide the gaming industry is worth about $8 billion, WISC-TV reported.

 

to help cover the cost to move 17-year-olds, who commit non-violent crimes, back into the juvenile system

Basically, blaming video games on violence...