NJ Library Slammed for Violent Video Game Ban

First Amendment, folks

PATERSON, NJ – The city library's efforts to stop Paterson youths from playing violent video games on its computers have come under fire from the National Coalition Against Censorship as well as from the video game industry.

In a letter sent to city library officials last Friday, the New York-based anti-censorship group asserted that the ban on so-called "direct-shooter" video games violated the First Amendment's free speech protections.

"It is no more acceptable for a library to ban access to certain kinds of video games than it would be to selectively remove other lawful materials,'' said the letter.  "Library patrons, including young people, have a First Amendment right to make their own decisions about literature, art, informational materials, and entertainment without having those choices limited by the subjective views of library officials.''