Eurogamer

A lawmaker in the US state of Oklahoma has proposed a bill that would impose a one per cent tax on all video games deemed violent.

According to the bill, introduced by State Representative William Fourkiller, any title rated either Teen, Mature or Adult Only fall under that umbrella. As noted by Time, that means the likes of Dance Central 2 and Final Fantasy 13-2 would be included.

50 per cent of all revenues collected off that levy would be donated to the Childhood Outdoor Education Revolving Fund, set up to promote "outdoor education initiative and nature-orientated physical programs for school-age children in accordance with childhood obesity efforts."

The other 50 per cent would go to the Bullying Prevention Revolving Fund.

If passed, it'll become law in the US state as of 1st July this year.

A similar bill was proposed in New Mexico back in 2008, but failed to make it through legislature.

Mass Effect 3 senior designer Manveer Heir is among industry figures to pour scorn on the idea, via Twitter.

"Oklahoma proposes a 1% tax on violent games. Can I propose 1% tax on stupid f****** ideas that are also unconstitutional?" he wrote.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-03-us-lawmaker-proposes-1-percent-tax-on-violent-video-games

And violent movies, explicit music?

Fourkiller? How about a 1% tax on violent surnames? Oh, and on stupid ideas.

US has really low taxes as it is, you could do with an increase. one of these expanded to other forms of media as well.

We need someone to go read a violent book, go kill someone, then blame it on the book.*

Who wants to take one for the team?




*Disclaimer: I am joking

Damnit I hit quote instead of edit, double post.

I was thinking the same thing.  I mean this rule isn't horrible, even though I'm against all forms of tax.  But I have to question the T rating, I would understand Mature.  Also don't discriminate.  If you doing games, then do movies, music and other forms of entertainment. 

But really guy, grow up and give a better reaction than what he did.

It's just one state people. It's not the world or the end of it for that matter.

If it gets passed, it goes to court, and the courts decide if it's constitutional or not.

States are permitted to tax as they see fit; to address concerns within the state.

As for Fourkiller's name, he's likely decended from Native Americans.