Surrounded by parents and pre-teens in a public library in Aurora, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed the landmark Safe Games Illinois Act, making Illinois the only state in the nation to ban the sale and rental of violent and sexually explicit video games to children. HB 4023, sponsored by State Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), won final legislative approval in May. The governor first proposed the Safe Games initiative in December.
“It’s tough being a parent these days. It’s much more difficult than it was when my parents were raising my brother and me. When I was growing up, my mother spent a lot of time worrying about what my brother and I were doing outside of the home – who we were you hanging around with and making sure we weren’t hanging around with the wrong kids. Nowadays, it’s a lot tougher. While the values parents are teaching their kids are very similar, the demands on parents are greater – they’re spending more time outside of the home and there are more dangers coming into the home,” said Gov. Blagojevich.
“Parents don’t need government to raise their kids. That’s their job. But government can help them protect their children from influences they may not want their kids exposed to,” added Gov. Blagojevich. “This law makes Illinois the first state in the nation to ban the sale and rental to children of violent and sexually explicit video games. This law is all about empowering parents and giving them the tools they need to protect their kids. And giving them the ability to make decisions on the kinds of games their kids can play.”
