Oklahoma anti-video game tax voted down

Earlier this month, Oklahoma representative William Fourkiller (D) proposed a Bill that would apply a 1% tax on video games, due to their relationship to obesity and aggression.

Even though 1% is a seemingly trivial amount, the Bill was soundly defeated by the Oklahoma House Revenue and Tax Subcommittee last week - with opponents pointing out that the link between video game violence and real-world violence is inconclusive at best, and objecting to the Bill's blatant ignorance of other forms of violent entertainment. Other voters claimed the proposed tax was "too broadly drawn", a blanket application to all T and M-rated games would apply to non-violent content (such as The Sims 3) as well as violent games (like Twisted Metal). Worse: The tax would also have applied to an assortment of movement-based dancing games, which are designed to get gamers "up off the couch", preventing the problem the tax is designed to benefit.

In a telling move, the lawmakers objected to the way the Bill singled out video games specifically, rather than - say - "French fries or rap music or movies".

Once turned down, Fourkiller then attempted to create the Oklahoma Task Force on Vidoe Games' Relationship to Obesity and Aggression, which was quickly shut down - the House believing that there are already sufficient measures in place to study games and gamers.

One Response to “Oklahoma anti-video game tax voted down”

1. Oklahoma Video Game Tax Declined Fast And Declined Hard : Just Push Start says:

   February 27, 2012 at 11:55 pm

   [...] William Fourkiller, a representative of Oklahoma, proposed a law that would cause Oklahoma games to carry a 1% tax. Not exactly 2012′s Jack Thompson, yet, but enough to earn the nickname ‘William [...]

   Reply

Article Details

• published: February 26th, 2012
• by: Jessica Citizen
• in: bullying, children, Game: The Sims 3, Game: Twisted Metal, obesity, Oklahoma, Politics, William Fourkiller
• comments: 1

Author Bio:

I like video games, fishing, Depeche Mode, long walks on the beach, writing discussion papers and cups of tea. Not necessarily in that order.

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