Oklahoma House Bill 2696 was defeated in the House Revenue and Tax Subcommittee on February 20. This legislation would have placed a 1% excise tax on the sale of “violent” video games. When asked to withdraw his tax proposal, Representative Will Fourkiller (D) attempted to create the Oklahoma Task Force on Video Games’ Relationship to Obesity and Aggression. This proposal failed as well.

It was obvious that this bill singled out video games with unfair and unfounded claims, and something needed to be done.

Upon hearing of this legislation, Oklahoma VGVN supporters worked quickly, sending hundreds of messages to the OK Subcommittee on Revenue and Taxation and to Rep. Fourkiller letting them know that they would not stand for this proposed legislation.

And they were successful!

Oklahoma VGVN supporters pointed out that contrary to Rep. Fourkiller’s claims, there is no evidence linking video games with real world violence or obesity. This legislation would have taxed games like Get Up and Dance and Zumba Fitness 2: Party Yourself Into Shape, which actually encourage players to get up off the couch and burn calories.

They also informed them that the U.S. Supreme Court had rejected the idea that a state could impose content-based restrictions on video games and it was important for Rep. Fourkiller and the subcommittee to know that this should not be any different when it comes to Oklahoma.

Thanks for your efforts in Oklahoma. We need to continue to make sure other states are not the next victim of having their First Amendment rights threatened. So keep up the great work, gamers!