I think this is ridiculous and just another way of getting funds into a state government's coffers. 

Tax increases typically are a hard sell in Missouri. This past November, voters rejected a proposed tobacco tax increase for the third time in a decade, choosing instead to leave the state's cigarette tax at the lowest level in the nation. Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon both have taken stands against tax increases.

I believe before something like this is done, there should be more scientific research on the affects of playing violent video games especially since there are studies showing positive affects of playing these games.

A Republican lawmaker from rural Missouri bucked her party's anti-tax bent on Tuesday and called for a sales tax on violent video games in response to a deadly Connecticut school shooting.

Rep. Diane Franklin said the proposed 1 percent sales tax would help pay for mental health programs and law enforcement measures aimed at preventing mass shootings. The tax would be levied on video games rated "teen," "mature" and "adult-only" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the organization in charge of rating video games.

I mean how can a state say there is a history associated to these games?  Has there really been proof that these games were the cause?

"History shows there is a mental health component to these shootings," Franklin said, referring to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 20 students and six adults in Newtown, Conn., and the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting that left 14 dead.

I am not saying I totally disagree that violent video games might have some negative impact especially if a person has some mental impairment to begin with, but I feel there needs to be more scientific study,

"Make no mistake: blaming movies and video games is an attempt to distract the attention of the public and the media from meaningful action that will keep our children safer," wrote the merchant's association, a lobbying group for the home entertainment industry.

To start a discussion by pushing a bill to raise taxes is just wrong.  IMO, usually, the taxes are approved and people are paying before the possible intended mission ever gets discussed or put on the back burner.

Franklin said she hopes her bill will "start a discussion" on the relationship between violent games and mental illness. Franklin, who has a granddaughter in kindergarten, added she is concerned about the safety of schools and universities in the state.