mike-morley
Latest
Epilogue: After Utah game bill dies, state rep apologizes for Jack Thompson
Things haven't been going well for the Utah gaming bill that ex-attorney Jack Thompson penned and, for that matter, the gentleman himself. After sending out an email to a variety of Utah legislators a few weeks back, the man came under threat of legal action from Utah senate president Michael Waddoups. And today, GamePolitics is reporting that the bill's original sponsor, state representative Mike Morley, has written an email to his colleagues apologizing for Thompson's actions (printed in full after the break). Morley writes to his fellow reps that, "[Thompson] doesn't speak for me nor do I condone or appreciate his actions nor some his tactics," seemingly ending his relationship with Thompson. Unsurprisingly, Thompson has responded to Morley's email (also found after the break), claiming, "Mike Morley's apology is ridiculous. I didn't scandalous [sic] anyone with an image of two clad women." He further posits, "Your family values stance is a sham," refererring to the legislators he wrote. We're not sure of many things in politics, but we are sure of this: You probably shouldn't directly insult the people you'd like to support you. While this is likely the last time you'll hear about this Utah bill, we're 100 percent sure this isn't the last time you'll hear from Jack Thompson.[image source]
Jack Thompson writes bill for Utah, tries new angle
Shockingly, Jack Thompson still has people who'll listen to him, as the disbarred former attorney has gained some traction in his crusade against video games in Utah. State Rep. Mike Morley (R) has presented a new bill, written by Thompson, which hits retailers with false advertising charges for selling mature games or films to minors. A previous Thompson-written bill in Utah failed.Speaking with a lobbyist familiar with media content issues, GamePolitics notes that this new bill, along with the state of Utah, is a little different than the last time Thompson tried his shenanigans. Even with Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's support of the game industry, the conservative wing of the Utah legislature has recently been reinforced and could pass a bill that might pass judicial review. However, as always, we know the ESA's lawyers are sharpening their knives and getting excited about all those billable hours if Utah passes anything. If the past is any indication, the ESA will win and Utah taxpayers will foot the bill.
