SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (97.1 FM TALK) - Some violent video games like the popular first-person player "Grand Theft Auto" would be banned in Illinois under a new bill.
Rep. Marcus Evans Jr. introduced HB3531 on Friday, which would amend a law to ban the sale of video games depicting "psychological harm," including "motor vehicle theft with a driver or passenger present."
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"'Grand Theft Auto' and other violent video games are getting in the minds of our young people and perpetuating the normalcy of carjacking," Evans said, reports ABC 7. "Carjacking is not normal and carjacking must stop."
The bill comes after Chicago Police officers responded to 218 carjacking incidents in January. Local activist Early Walker, who started Operation Safe Pump to prevent carjackings at gas stations and shopping centers, says the game is leading to organized crime.
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"Representative Evans and I have researched and concluded that these very young offenders of carjacking are greatly influenced by the Grand Theft Auto video game," Walker said. "I truly believe that there is bipartisan support in Springfield to ban this game from being sold in Illinois."
Read the full bill, here.