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Does video games contribute to real-life violence? That’s a debate that just never seems to end, with some suggesting that it does, and some suggesting that it doesn’t. However it seems that over in Rhode Island, Republican member for the Rhode Island State House, Robert Nardolillo III wants to impose a tax on what he considers “violent video games”.
In a statement published on his Facebook page, Nardolillo writes, “There is evidence that children exposed to violent video games at a young age tend to act more aggressively than those who are not. The bill would give schools the additional resources needed to help students deal with that aggression in a positive way.”
The tax money that would be earned from such games would be funneled into mental health provisions. Assuming this tax goes into effect, it seems M-rated games (or higher) will see an additional 10% sales tax levied onto them when they are sold in Rhode Island, which means that this tax would be limited to the state and not applicable nationwide, although we can imagine that this proposal could inspire the lawmakers in other states.
He adds, “Our goal is to make every school in Rhode Island a safe and calm place for students to learn. By offering children resources to manage their aggression today, we can ensure a more peaceful tomorrow.” Whether or not this will come to pass remains to be seen, but we expect that it will most likely be met with some resistance by others who don’t share his viewpoints.
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