GamePolitics has a story today about a proposed law in Arizona which would hold writers, publishers, and distributors liable for any crime committed by anyone who viewed their work. Not only would this pretty much kill free speech since there’s always some nutcase somewhere who can be inspired to kill by just about anything (think Charles Manson and Beatles songs or The Catcher in the Rye and John Hinckley or Mark David Chapman..), but it would pretty much reward criminal behavior by giving them something else to blame.
Rob a bank? Blame Heat or Dog Day Afternoon and let the victims sue Al Pacino. Shoot someone? Pfft, no worries, it’s all the military history book’s fault you knew how the gun worked. Punch someone in the face? Just say you watched a kung fu movie and let them get rich suing Chuck Norris or something.
Critically wound personal responsibly? Well, I guess we should all be able to sue the legislators who wrote this crazy bill..
Update: The Arizona Senate has rejected the bill!