With school shootings becoming an increasingly common occurrence in the United States, people are understandably looking for ways to prevent the senseless violence. There is plenty of debate on how that can be done, but one Pennsylvania state politician, Christopher B. Quinn (R), believes one way to accomplish that goal is by imposing a 10% sales tax on violent video games.

Quinn introduced House Bill 2705 to the Pennsylvania state legislature back on September 25, but it is just now getting attention online. Co-sponsored by two other Republicans and one Democrat, the proposed bill has yet to be voted on. However, if it's passed, the 10% sales tax collected will go toward a "restricted fund" that will pay for "school safety enhancements." What exactly those enhancements would be is not specified in Quinn's memo on the bill.

The primary inspirations for the bill appear to the Parkland, Florida school shooting from earlier this year, as well as Rhode Island's bill, which proposed something similar. Quinn's memo also cites a study by the National Center for Health Research that claimed people who play violent video games can experience an increase in aggressive thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. That same study also said that people who are exposed to violent video games can be desensitized to seeing aggressive behavior, and may also experience a decrease of "prosocial" behaviors. According to the study, prosocial behaviors that may be decreased in someone who plays violent video games include "helping another person" and even feeling empathy.

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Over the years, there have been a number of studies on violent video games and their impact on the people that play them. There have been some studies that show a link between violent video games and aggressive behavior, but others that don't argue such a direct correlation. In the legal world, video games have largely been protected by the First Amendment in the United States, though that could change if these bills pass.

Historically speaking, bills designed to restrict video game sales, either through tax or in other ways, have not been successful. However, there has been at least one instance where a specific individual was banned from playing violent games by the order of a judge, so there is some precedent of video game use being restricted by law.

When and if House Bill 2705 goes to a vote, it will be interesting to see what comes of it.

Source: Pennsylvania House of Representatives (via Niche Gamer)