Game Update

Though my article on video games and moral panics appeared on Reason's website today, it was first published in our print edition a couple of months ago. There have been two developments since then that should be noted. On the down side, Washington Gov. Gary "Not John" Locke did indeed sign Mary Lou Dickerson's anti-game bill into law. On the up side, Judge Stephen Limbaugh's ruling that video games are not protected speech has been reversed.

Unfortunately, the second event doesn't mean Washington's law is doomed. Dickerson's legislation targets minors, not general audiences, and thus gets much more leeway under current First Amendment law.

Update: I spoke too soon. Reader Venkat Balasubramani informs me that Judge Robert Lasnik issued a preliminary injunction last month enjoining enforcement of the law, citing a series of free-speech concerns.