The Video Game Voters Network has released its new anti-regulation video on YouTube (hat tip to Zach Whalen at Gameology).

My feelings regarding this are mixed. On one hand, I’m thrilled that an organization is trying to do something regarding this matter. On the other hand, the idea that the video game issue will make or break a congressional election is laughable.

I remember a luncheon I attended one day where Grover Norquist denied that the immigration issue could even make an impact come time to vote. Granted he isn’t exactly the best on the issue, but he did raise a valid point. As he also said, threatening a Congressman that you’ll mobilize X number of voters over an issue which people don’t vote on is ridiculous and doesn’t work.

On its website, the VGVN encourages people to call members of Congress and let them know how they feel about regulation of games. But honestly, is that going to do anything? Even if VGVN was to sign up 100,000 members, there are a plethora of tiny interest groups around this country who claim that they have that many members ready to vote. The problem is nobody believes that every member will do what the the organization says. I’m not here to attack the VGVN as it’s attempting to do something worthwhile, but I just wish that there was a more effective organization.

What I’d like to see is some tactical grassroots activism on the local and state levels. Forget the United States Congress, this issue isn’t big enough yet to pressure them. However, if some state legislator decides to introduce a bill making it illegal to sell GTA to a 15-year-old, then there is some work to be done. State legislators are more likely to be intimidated and it should not be hard to rally local gamers into a frenzy. Simply communicate that Legislator X is going to destroy your right to play video games. He’ll start with this, but soon it will be other things. Make a 4×6 pledge card that pledges the signatory to ensuring Legislator X never gets elected to not only the state congress, but also the school board and every other random office in the state. Make the card communicate that he’ll be targeted his entire career and that each person will never forget him if this bill passes. Sign people up at events. Sponsor local LAN parties with prizes, organize Halo and Madden tournaments on college campuses, work with local video game stores, and just get every person possible to sign a pledge card.

Essentially, you’re doing more than saying we’ll vote against you during re-election. You’re telling him that you’ll not only vote him out of office, but you’ll target him in every public position he ever runs for. After you have a massive stack of these cards, send someone to Legislator X’s office and dump them on his desk or on the floor. That’ll get the message across. Chances are that your average state legislator could be intimidated by this sort of thing.

The video game issue isn’t big in Congressional elections, but it’s possible that it may be able to do some damage on the state level. When someone looks at the ballot, that random state legislator is all of a sudden a recognizable name - and he wants to take away your right to play video games.

Now, that’s just one idea however good or bad. But the point I’m trying to make is that we need to do something more than having people place calls to Washington DC. The battle needs to be fought first on the local and state level. The video game issue isn’t yet large enough to tackle on the federal level, but we have the potential to make some serious gains close to home.