The national assembly of Venezuela gave first approval for banning games and toys that promote violence and gore. The country is not the first one to consider this move. Others who have already taken such measures are countries like Japan, China, Germany, Australia and Brazil.

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The legislators of the country seem to be keen on passing the bill in belief that it will help reduce crime in the country. The bill has just passed one hurdle in the assembly. It now will have to pass another round before going to President Hugo Chavez. He will finally sign the bill in to a law. However, no time has yet been set for the second vote.

Earlier in 2006 also legislators close to Chavez had targeted ‘Electronic Arts and Pandemic’s Mercenaries 2′. This game was set in Venezuela and the players of the game targeted a ‘power-hungry tyrant’. Some from the opposition had opposed this move.

Now some of the same opposition is backing the new bill. Some of the states in the US have also tried to ban the sale of such games to minors. This includes Oklahoma and California.