I wouldn’t post this, but can’t resist sharing the last paragraph of the below letter, which I sent to my Utah House Representative (Cannon), and my Senators Orrin and Hatch.

Here’s a reference page (link), and also, this page (link) and this (link) will find you your Representatives and Senators to write.

This makes a constitutional argument about matters relating to commerce, but as it is constitutional it could easily play by reference to a whole slew of things.

Who is going to determine any of the judgements about game content on which HB 257 hinges? The ESRB. Since the execution of the law hinges on such judgements, the law is not merely law but also judge and nigh unto prison officer. It’s unconstitutional. It makes a law a judge but the judges aren’t under the law and have free reign. There’s no separation of powers there and it makes the powers that be ones that were never meant to be governing powers. That last nail in the coffin of any law argument aside, the organization that would be given unconstitutional power is an entity that often gives out preposterously conservative game ratings, and if they don’t their views fluctuate even more wildly than House legislation, and are haphazardly and unevenly applied. And I say this as a morally very conservative person myself.

I work in the video game industry in Utah. I also work in the film industry in Utah and I favor the Film Incentive Fund: no other art industry in Utah can return 11 to 1 on investment and yet they all picket for its demise.

If I join the circus, too, and pending legislation affects that industry in any way about which I have an opinion, I’ll let you know ;) Are you for or against domestic ownership of elephants? Believe that whipping a tiger is against animal rights? Believe that clowns should have special antidepressant medication priveledges through medicaire?

Also, A side but philosophically related issue (link), and arguments I agree with, and I think it makes a parrallel: Mormons turning their consiences over to the MPAA rating system and conservatives turning over their consciences to the ESRB.