NRA Works Against Senate Bill
Filed at 11:02 a.m.EDT
nytimes.com
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republican leaders, reacting to a spate of gun violence in schools, are talking about legislation that would restrict youth access to video games, movies and other items containing violent and sexually explicit material, officials say.
The proposal also would require the music industry to provide stores with copies of song lyrics as a means of allowing adults to keep questionable products from their children.
The provisions were among several prepared by Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, for inclusion in legislation cracking down on juvenile crime.
The measure is expected to reach the House floor by next week, and has become the focus for responding to the April shooting deaths at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.
Democrats are attempting to force passage of gun control provisions that cleared the Senate, including a requirement for mandatory background checks for all gun show sales.
The National Rifle Association has launched a fresh effort to derail that proposal.
Congressional Republicans have said for weeks that the shootings underscored the need for steps to crack down on the often-violent images that youngsters are exposed to.
Depending on its precise wording, the proposal being circulated Monday by Hyde could spark strong objections from civil libertarians, as well as from the manufacturers of video games and other popular consumer items.
A summary of Hyde's proposal, made available to The Associated Press, calls for prohibition of the sale or showing of ''explicit sexual or violent material which fails to qualify for First Amendment protection.''
The impact would be to restrict explicitly violent images, much as sexually explicit material is now prohibited for minors.
''The First Amendment is not absolute and does not protect obscenity,'' the summary states. ''Furthermore, it is constitutionally permissible to accord minors under 17 a more restricted right'' to pornography than adults have.
Several sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Hyde's proposal, which relates to pictures, sculpture, video games, movies, books, magazines and other printed matter, were greeted enthusiastically by members of the Republican leadership.
A Senate-passed measure requires instant background checks for all gun-show purchases, closing what supporters said was a loophole that permitted some transactions to proceed without checks. In addition, it outlawed importation of large-capacity ammunition clips, required the sale of safety locks with handguns and barred juveniles with felony convictions from ever buying guns.
The outcome of gun provisions in the House is unpredictable, aides in both parties said. |
