Stephen King rejects the Massachusetts bill according to which videogames that depict violence should not be sold to under-18 buyers. In an Entertainment Weekly article, King said that despite not being a big fan of videogames, the bill is rather absurd, as it restricts the right to a 17-year-old to buy or rent Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, but it allows him to see Hostel: Part II.

The bill tries to insert the “Harmful to Minors” definition as an obscene matter, which describes or portrays nudity or sexual conduct, as well as violence, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value to minors.

Kings believes otherwise: “The vid-critics claim they exist for one reason and one reason only, so kids can experience the vicarious thrill of killing. Now what does and doesn’t have social merit is always an interesting question […] But what makes me crazy is when politicians take it upon themselves to play surrogate parents. The results of that are usually disastrous.”

And yes, Kings agreed with one of the bill’s creators who said that young minds shouldn’t be under a constant barrage of violence and think it is alright, but at the same time, it’s not the games that alter their mind, as games are mere reflections of what goes around them in reality.

The videogames have a rating system which should be respected accordingly, and at the same time, “if there’s violence to be had, the kids are gonna find a way to get it, just as they’ll find a way to get all-day shooters like No Country for Old Men from cable if they want. Or Girls Gone Wild, for that matter.”

King concluded: “What really makes me insane is how eager politicians are to use the pop culture – not just videogames, but TV, movies, even Harry Potter – as a whipping boy. It’s easy for them, even sort of fun, because the pop-cult always hollers nice and loud. Also, it allows legislators to ignore the elephants in the living room," (referring to what America should and should not have, or the everlasting problem of guns).