By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt banned all video games from state prisons on Monday.
The move comes less than a month after revelations that inmates serving time for violent crimes were being allowed to play violent video games at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.
About 35 violent video games already had been removed from the prison, but Blunt's executive order applies to all games. He says he doesn't want taxpayer money spent to determine which games are violent or not.
The governor adds video games are a luxury that should not be available to people being punished for crimes. His office says Missouri was one of just three states that allowed video games.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the Missouri House are proposing a new law that would prevent minors from buying violent or sexually explicit video games.
"Folks, we're not talking about Pac-Man or Pong here," said House Minority Leader Jeff Harris (D-Columbia), who is nicknaming his measure "Rated P for Parents." "We're talking about things that encourage kids to engage in acts that they shouldn't be engaging in."