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Home News Proposed Tax In Oklahoma For Violent Video Games

GAMING NEWS

Proposed Tax In Oklahoma For Violent Video Games

Posted on Thursday, February 2 @ 07:47:12 Eastern by Keri_Honea
Yes, you read the headline correctly. Oklahoma State Representative William Fourkiller—bask in that irony of a last name—has proposed a tax on violent video games. The tax is one percent on top of sales taxes, and all proceeds from the tax will go to a "Childhood Outdoor Education Revolving Fund" and a "Bullying Prevention Revolving Fund." It should be noted that none of these funds currently exist; if the tax passes, these funds will thus be born.

So what is a violent video game? I have my thoughts, and surely you have yours, but with Mr. Fourkiller's proposal, a violent video game is any game with an ESRB rating of T, M, or AO (Adult Only). So Dragon Quest VI, with all of its little slime slaying, would have been taxed. Surely I'm not the only one who sees what's wrong with this picture.

Probably the most hilarious aspect of the entire bill is the last section, which claims that this is an emergency situation. It is apparently necessary to preserve "public peace, health and safety." So hey, violent video games also make us unhealthy too. Did you know that?

If passed, the tax will go into full effect on July 1, 2012. 

I agree that such funding programs should exist, but by taxing what they consider to be violent video games? Please. Take some of the revenue from the casino taxes, and oh, I don't know, maybe cut your own fat salaries.

Anyone want to bet that Mr. Fourkiller hasn't played a game beyond Angry Birds?

[Source]
Tags:   politics, video game tax


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Comments
  • Bras
    Bras
    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 7:54 am
    Crazy government you have
    0 0
  • Keri_Honea
    Keri_Honea
    Joined: Dec 2011
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 8:56 am
    Not mine! I'm in the even crazier government of Texas!
    1 0
  • strangebiscuit
    strangebiscuit
    Joined: Apr 2008
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 9:00 am
    Sickening. There should also be an additional tax on Dickens books. Oliver Twist encourages children to steal, and Nancy gets murdered. Literature has always been a plague on humanity. In fact all media is. It stops children from going outside. It's an emergency.
    0 0
  • Chunibrow
    Chunibrow
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 9:52 am
    I don't know, angry birds is pretty violent
    0 0
  • Longo_2_guns
    Longo_2_guns
    Joined: Jun 2003
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 11:50 am
    Well, if you live in Oklahoma, you're probably too busy coloring to play video games anyway.
    0 0
  • OdiousLupous
    OdiousLupous
    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 1:35 pm
    Not if youve eaten all the crayons first. What a jip, this doesnt taste anything like orange!
    0 0
  • Blazin13
    Blazin13
    Joined: Dec 2010
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 1:42 pm
    Can we refer to Mr. Fourkiller as Mr. Overkill from now on?
    0 0
  • redneckpride4eve
    redneckpride4eve
    Joined: Feb 2012
    Posted: Feb 2nd, 2012 at 3:29 pm
    Strange- gamers tend to lean to the left, but like Joe Lieberman of CT before, yet again it is a Democrat trying to put a hurt on games. Those of you who are Dems- vote idiots out like this during the primaries. I occasionally will support a Dem. if they are pro-gun, despite my reservations. It would be nice during those rare instances that I not support a tool like this guy.
    0 0

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