Protecting Kids From Violence.
Policy is patchy.
Children in theory are discouraged from watching at movie theaters R-rated films that they can readily rent at local video stores. The sale of pornography to youngsters is regulated, while video games of truly stunning violence can be sold with no consequences. The impulse to imagine ways to give parents more control over what their children see and hear is not a bad one. Some video distributors have pledged not to rent R-rated films and comparable video games to children without parental consent. The enormous market power of consumers who care about this issue can be a more powerful tool than any legislation.