GTA V Faces Ban as New Bill to Prohibit Sale of ‘Violent Video Games’ Introduced

Carjackings and violent crimes are on the rise in Chicago, Illinois, and a surprising culprit for the same has made its way to the foray. According to Illinois House Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr ‘violent video games’ are to blame, especially Rockstar Games’ ever-controversial GTA V.

In light of this, the lawmaker is looking to amend a 2012 law that bars the selling of certain violent video games to minors; House Bill 3531 would prevent the sale of all “violent video games” in the state to not just minors but people of all ages.

Violent video games are defined in the bill as any game that

“allows a user or player to control a character within the video game that is encouraged to perpetuate human-on-human violence in which the player kills or otherwise causes serious physical or psychological harm to another human or an animal.”

Violent Video Games Bill

While the carjacking stats in Chicago (218 in January as per the CPD) are definitely worrisome, there is little evidence to suggest that violent video games are in any way related to them. And yet, the bill seeks to change the definition of “serious physical harm” to include carjacking, among other things.

Evans is positive that the bill will help Chicago get its carjacking problem under control.

“The bill would prohibit the sale of some of these games that promote the activities that we’re suffering from in our communities,”

Marcus Evans Jr

Early Walker, who worked on the bill with Evans, also added his qualms with GTA V saying that the game has become “a huge issue in this spectrum.”

Video games causing excess violence in our society is an old, and maybe even tired, argument. In fact, the American Psychological Association reported last year that there is little scientific evidence to support a link between violence and video games. The report also suggested that while games can cause short moments of aggression, it does not necessarily mean that such momentary aggression will lead to more violent outcomes.

This bill is bound to face its fair share of scrutiny as this is not the first time that lawmakers have taken video games to task. Will it, however, lead to a more well-reasoned approach to a multifaceted problem like violence? It remains to be seen.

About Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V or GTA V is developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. Initially released on 1 October 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and on 18 November 2014 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and in the next year on 14 April 2015 for Microsoft Windows. A late 2021 release is scheduled for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.