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A Democratic lawmaker on the south side of Chicago introduced a bill last week calling for a ban on certain video games in an effort to combat the recent increase in violent crime in the city, including carjacking.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Representative Marcus Evans Jr. has called for an amendment to existing law that would ban the sale of games that depict “motor vehicle theft with a driver or passenger present.”
Fox 32 reported that Early Walker, a city philanthropist, said video games like “Grand Theft Auto” could have an impact on young minds. The report pointed out that some of the carjacking suspects in the city are not even old enough to drive legally.
Last month, a 14-year-old boy was arrested for participating in multiple carjackings, including one involving an off-duty officer, Chicago police said. Chicago police say car hijackings increased by about 135% last year to 1,415 and are continuing at a high rate this year.
While the youngest car thief arrested in recent attacks was around 12, police said. Perpetrators often work in crews and are motivated either by rides or by using the stolen vehicle to commit other crimes.
The report points out that gambling has been “banned or censored” in other countries. The idea of the legislation is to prevent the sale of these games to children in the state.
A DePaul psychology professor told Fox 32 that these games could play a role in increasing violent outcomes, but they probably aren’t the only factor. Rockstar Games did not immediately respond to a request from Fox News.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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