California law restricting video game sales on shaky ground

A federal appeals court on Wednesday appeared inclined to shoot down a California law aimed at banning the sale of violent video games to minors. During an hourlong hearing in Sacramento, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expressed concern that the state's anti-violent video game law interferes with parental control over children's game habits and runs afoul of the First Amendment. The appeals court is reviewing a San Jose federal judge's 2007 ruling striking down the law, which was California's attempt to bar retailers from selling or renting violent video games to minors because of mounting concerns that mayhem-filled games incite violent behavior in youth. The video game industry has challenged the law in California and other states, where courts have consistently found such regulations unconstitutional. While the 9th Circuit judges did lend some support to the state, they were generally skeptical the law can survive.