When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) examined the legislation of motion pictures and electronic games in 2000, it did not call for passing federal laws. Citing First Amendment concerns, the report reaffirmed the FTC’s belief that "vigilant self-regulation is the best approach to ensuring that parents are provided with adequate information to guide their children's exposure to entertainment media with violent content."

Concern about First Amendment rights, as that expressed by the FTC, is surely nothing new. Freedom of speech has long been a stro

ng argument against censorship of entertainment and communication. Since the 1950s, there have been many bills passed to prevent explicit lyrics in music. Repeatedly, however, the courts have denied legislation to ban or bring criminal charges based on the production or sale of artistic expression because of constitutional rights. In 1992, one bill finally seemed to pass. The state of Washington passed the Erotic Music law, which stated that storeowners had to place an “adult only” label on certain recordings. This law also read it was a crime for anyone to sell a CD or tape that had this notice to a person under the age of eighteen. Although the law got passed, it was never put into effect because of unconstitutionality (ACLU).

Naturally, those who take the other point of view can point to their own studies, which say that music videos alter sexual views. However, where such studies fall short is that they cannot be conducted in a vacuum. Today's kids are assailed with sexual imagery -- in magazines, ads, movie trailers, and posters. At home, more than half of all television programs -- 56 percent -- contain some sexual material, according to a recent study by the Parents Television Council, a nonpartisan advocacy group. In the last decade, the frequency of sexual interactions more than tripled during primetime vie

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