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Story by Dave Cook

Fri, Jan 25, 2013 | 13:02 GMT

Violent game research bill reintroduced to US congress

Senator Jay Rockefeller reintroduced his controversial bill to US congress yesterday – which calls for further research into the impact of violent games on children – after it failed to pass earlier this month.

We covered the bill’s first, unsuccessful submission here. If successful it would task the National Academy of Sciences with conducting studies into violence in the media, with the assistance of the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission. The study’s findings would then have to be submitted to Congress within 18 months.

Polygon reports that Rockefeller’s new submission now has four co-sponsors and according to GovTrack, the bill has a 12% chance of passing, with a 2% chance of becoming an actual law.

Rockefeller has also championed President Barack Obama’s call for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out new studies – with the potential backing of $10 million in funding – into the relationship between violent games and media images to violence.

On the issue Rockefeller said in a statement, “I think everyone can agree that the impact of violent content on our kids’ wellbeing is an important issue, and I’m glad this new plan will take a close look at it.

“I am working hard in the Senate to make sure this type of research — which I have strongly backed throughout my career — is available to inform our work on gun violence. Next week, I plan to reintroduce my bill to have the National Academy of Sciences study the link between violent content and children’s behavior.”

We’ll update on the bill’s progress as it happens. What’s your take on the issue?