March 02, 2004

By: Melissa Schneider
Website: http://www.1st-in-kids.com

Durbin Applauds KMART Measures To Restrict Kids’ Access To Violent Video Games

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin today applauded the Kmart Corporation for unveiling new measures to help keep children from buying violent video and computer games at Kmart retail outlets in Illinois and across the nation. Kmart has approximately 110 stores in Illinois.

Under the new restrictions, advisory signs about ratings will be posted where video and computer game buyers can see them and check-out clerks will be prompted by registers to check a purchaser’s picture ID for proof of age. Kmart also will display the ratings in some of its circulars during the holiday season.

Today’s announcement by Kmart follows letters Durbin and several colleagues sent in May to nationwide retailers urging the companies to take stronger steps toward preventing kids from gaining access to video and computer games with ultraviolent, sexual or other content inappropriate for children.

The letter was sent after a sting operation by Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan found that all 32 Illinois retail outlets checked during the operation sold video and computer games rated as M to children aged 13 to 15. A game with an M rating for Mature is only supposed to be sold to those 17 and older under a rating system developed by the industry.

Graphic video and computer games may be fantasy, but the impact they and other media violence have on our children is real. I commend Kmart for taking a responsible lead and hope other corporations will follow when it comes to targeting kids, Durbin said. No single factor leads to a child turning violent, but taking common-sense steps to protect children from some of the horrific images raining down around them is one way to lighten this downpour.

According to a recent news report, a draft of a Federal Trade Commission investigation due out this month found that movie studios, record companies and video game producers are marketing violent entertainment products to kids even though the industry has rated those products as not for children.

According to the article in the Washington Post, the draft report found that, among other conclusions, producers of video games marketed their products for mature users in magazines geared toward young teenage readers.

We all have to take responsibility when it comes to our kids, Durbin said. Kmart’s voluntary action puts protecting kids ahead of making profits.

About The Author:

Melissa Schneider is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com.  Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.