Video game law ruled unconstitutional
Springfield, Ill. A federal judge ruled Friday that Illinois’ restrictions on the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors are unconstitutional and barred the state from enforcing the law.
State officials “have come nowhere near” demonstrating that the law passes constitutional muster, said U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly.
Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other supporters of the measure argued that children were being harmed by exposure to games in which characters go on killing sprees or sexual escapades. Blagojevich said he will appeal the ruling.
Other states this year approved similar legislation after hidden sex scenes were discovered in a popular game, “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.” California’s version, set to go into effect Jan. 1, is among those being challenged in court.
The Illinois law, which also was to go into effect Jan. 1, would have barred stores from selling or renting extremely violent or sexual games to minors and allowed $1,000 fines for violators.
Connecticut evacuates all of its courthouses
Hartford, Conn. Bomb threats prompted police to evacuate the state’s 45 courthouses Friday, abruptly interrupting trials while sending judges, lawyers and people with routine court business into the streets.
A caller said bombs would go off at 2 p.m. An hour later, the buildings were still being searched with dogs and nothing had been found.
Public Safety Commissioner Leonard Boyle said there were five threats that were not directed against specific courthouses.
“The calls were not specific as to particular courthouses, which of course compounded the problem,” Boyle said. “The calls simply stated that bombs had been placed in courthouses, or one call I believe said ‘judicial buildings’ in the state of Connecticut.”
NYC gun lawsuit allowed to proceed
New York A federal judge ruled Friday that New York City’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers can go forward, saying a new federal law designed to shield the industry from legal action does not apply in this case.
The new law, which was championed by the National Rifle Association and signed by President Bush in October, barred lawsuits against gun makers or sellers by cities and crime victims. But it made an exception for lawsuits accusing gun makers of knowingly violating a law regarding the sale or marketing of firearms.
U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein ruled that the city’s case – which claims that gun suppliers violated public nuisance law by negligently and recklessly marketing its weapons – falls within that exception.
The lawsuit seeks no money damages, but wants gun makers to more closely police dealers who frequently sell guns later used to commit crimes. It alleges the gun industry has flooded the market, allowing guns to fall into criminals’ hands.