I just wonder why politicians like to press the issues that have no real need to be pressed?

Let's jump straight to the subject...video games are too violent and should be regulated so that kids can't have access to them.  I just read an article on http://www.gamasutra.com/  about this - irks me every time... here's my thing about this.

1) Games are too violent - First off, what happened to all the other genres out there that don't encompass such endeavors and are just as popular as the blood-fests... Guitar Hero, Madden, Geometry Wars, Paper Mario? There are plenty of games out there that don't meet politicians' ideals.  If they're so up and arms about it, why not focus on the violence of television and movies? They're just as bad as video games most times, but their a MUCH LARGER public engagement and tend to be based off of real life scenarios.

2) The games need to be regulated - They are.  They're regulated by the gaming industry who possess some of the strictest guidelines compared to any other industry to date and are sited as being the most productive/innovative when it comes to evolving.  Every game is clearly marked for which age group the game is designated for and are VERY quick to label a game rated "M" - for mature, if it contains even the slightest hint of drugs, sexual content, violence, or even strong language.

3) Get them out of kids reach -  This is the sole responsibility of two entities: the stores that sell the games and the parents of the child.  The industry has already done their part in making the content known.   Once it leaves their hands, what else can they do? They don't regulate sales, they can't force a store to follow the store's own policy of not selling games to minors...and how are they to stop the parents who either don't pay their kid enough attention to know what his playing...let alone care??

I'm just glad that there are still some level headed individuals out there that know these issues are being covered and are keeping needless politics out of the industry.