Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Switzerland require that every male go through some basic military training when they reach an adult age? It's how they all get experience with firearms (and yet little crime happens) and why they kick ass in fighting off foreign invaders. The Swiss know how to handle their guns. They don't need any wimpy anti-violence laws.

Way to go Switzerland law! One of the only sane laws left.

I play video games all kinds and genres. I would be very peeved if my government tried to take them away. Its not like every person who plays a video game is going to shoot someone. Seriously they r going to have issues if that ever went through.

You would hope that this would have no shot of becoming law in a first-world nation like Switzerland.

Finally! A socialist who can cross the partisan gap on the violent gaming issue! If you can't push your agenda through the legislative system, file a lawsuit, right?

I somewhat agree with Canary: the real story here is that the rest of Swiss government is sensible enough to tell this guy to take off. I wish we had more instances of that on this side of the Atlantic.

"This [violent video game] debate goes on in every European country"

I can't stress how much of a LIE this is..

I've yet to hear a politician from my nation even MENTION computergames in a negative association.

most kids these days usually have an FPS on their list of top 10 favorite games

does that mean all kids are future murderers?

the DOOM generation is grown up now, and all i see in a DECREASE in crime levels


the swiss government is wise for telling the guy to **** off. we need this kinds of stuff to happen here

Didn't Switzerland try to ban Postal 2???

This is what happens with Switzerland dosen't remain neutral......

GRIZZAM 512 - I'd bump up Sweden a notch cause buying stuff in Norway's expensive as hell :d ( for example a McDonald menu costs like 20 dollars there).

@Fred

I know. The only reason Norway's so high up their is because I got family over there.

Justitiekanslern(goverment agency) tried to prosecute the head of the company that distributed postal 2 here in sweden back in 2006 for distribution of illegal depiction of violence but the case was dismissed. Parlament also didnt pass a lowering of value added tax for videogames from 25% to 6%. So we have some problems for gamers in Sweden. I wonder if there will be controversy over drunk driving missions in gta 4 though.

I live in Switzerland and I have to correct this a bit:

Yes, it's true, there is an initiative. It's been launched by the parliament of Bern with a great majority, which is actually quite disturbing. Roland Näf did file a trial against Media Markt, but he did this on his own, to make his point.

So, what's going to happen next? Sorry, I don't know, how to translate all this into English. But actually, all that's happened, is, that politicians are now forced to discuss this topic. There are two chambers, who need to find a common legislation about this. They'll fight each other, I can assure you: It'll take a looooong time. In the end, there might be some proposal for a new law, or not. If there is, the people may or may not take the referendum (sorry, I have no idea, how to translate this into english).

The problem at this point (if it gets that far) may be, that the media are completely ignoring this discussion. There is no "raging controversy" about this, not at all. Also, it's completely new to me, that this double murder has been linked to video games. There was another double-murder in Switzerland in January 07, that *german* media linked to Final Fantasy. No word about that here, though.

Talking about ratings in Switzerland seems, however, to be a good thing. Because currently, we've got *nothing*. Just by accident, there are those PEGI prints on the game boxes, but they actually have no meaning. Changing this might be a good idea.

However, this thrust wants to ban 18+ rated games completely. This initiative is pretty harsh, to say the least, and it will be forced to be discussed, but it won't get through like this.

Well, saying all this, there's a big problem: You titled "Controversy Rages in Switzerland". No, this controversy is NOT raging! It's very quiet here about this. Which also means, that taking the referendum would be very difficult, if it got actually through.

On the other hand, discussing this isn't a bad thing. We've got no regulation at all, here, PEGI is just a recommendation, no obligation at all. It might be a good idea to regulate that a bit more.

Again: Unfortunately, this discussion is not "raging", it's going on under the hoods ...

OMG, actual common sense in government... i'm shocked O.O

Weird. Living in Geneva, I've heard nothing about this.

Maybe I should actually try reading more than the free ones.

For a country with compulsory military service? Riiight...

I kinda made my Gymnasium description vague. Basically, Swiss education is waaaaaaaay different from the U.S. after elementary, ang Gymnasium is College prep. A lot of swiss kids go to american or international schools, which run like schools do in the U.S.

o_____________o
violent video games is my life .. D:
you guys are against my life .. D: '
YOU GUYS ARE HOMOS ! D: