Boston v. Gaming: Mayor Goes After Violent Games

Thomas M. Menino, the Mayor of Boston, is the latest politician to take on the gaming industry over the sale of violent products to minors. He is set to fight a battle to make sure children under the age of 17 cannot get their hands on M rated games. Judges have routinely struck down similar efforts in other states as unconstitutional, but it likely will earn him a vote or three.

Gaming advocates are ready to fight back, blasting Menino's move as "unconstitutional" and citing nine federal court decisions that have rejected similar bids in recent years.

"Every time states have tried to restrict access to First Amendment-protected material, it has been considered unconstitutional," said Dan Hewitt, spokesman for the Entertainment Software Association , which represents the U.S. computer and video gaming industry.

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