[Source Game Politics]

Brazil Discussing Violent Game Ban

Brazilian Senator Valdir Raupp (pictured left) has authored a bill that would make it a crime to make, import or distribute “offensive” videogames in the South American country.

A story on the Brazilian website UOL (translation here) reports that the Education Commission of the Senate has approved the measure, which will now go to vote in the Committee on Constitution and Justice.

Raupp’s goal is to, “curb the manufacture, distribution, importation, distribution, trading and custody, storage, the video games that affect the customs, traditions of the people, their worship, creeds, religions and symbols.”

He continued, “Therefore, we seek to protect the principle of equality - for many the greatest of constitutional principles - with the characterization of such discriminatory conduct as a crime by making provision in the law.”

The bill seeks a penalty of one to three years imprisonment for those committing an offense.

The story notes that Brazil has banned games such as Carmageddon, Postal and Grand Theft Auto in the past.

So by stopping legitimate sales, they will only further strengthen the black market..smart.

IT SHALL NOT PASS!!! It's inconstitutional. If that goes one the same thing could be applied to films, soap Operas or even Theater. If it passes, it will go to the Supreme Court.

This is ridiculous, importation is the soul of brazilian video game market.

I want someone to try and stop me if I try to bring some games to Brasil, next time I go outside. I'll travel with my Constitution in my bag.

rofl.

yeah the brazilian goverment cares a lot about your US constitution...

I would be less worried if it indeed was a "violent game ban", but it's about not allowing games that might offend (and not "affect") a culture, religion or country. it's stupid anyway, but it seems worse than banning violent games because they can fit ANY game in it and say it's offensive.

coming from our congress, this is not really surprising.

Ail, he's from Brazil. but you're right, our constitution has been torn apart so many times, they don't give a shit anymore - unless it affects them.

They may care for my Brazilian constitution, since I'm a Brazilian citizen living in the Metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. I buy my games in the US, through friends, parents and relatives, when they do go abroad.

@Salaminizer yeah they may torn our constitution, but it won't stop me open a suit against them if they try and hold my games at the airport. I got to at least try...

stupid. Why not worry about your drug/gang/militia/etc crimes before some petty video games?

That's like replacing the wall plate cover on your light switch because you don't like the color when you have a gaping 6 foot hole in your house's wall.