Madam - Manhunt 2 is a video game and has nothing to do with TV. Terry Gillespie (June 23rd) seems to suggest that somehow this video game would be as freely accessible to people of all ages as any TV channel, which is as about as correct as suggesting that Hostel 2, when it comes out in cinemas, will be seen by all four year-olds across the country.
Like the said movie, Manhunt 2, had it been released, would have been restricted to 18-year-olds and over, thus never actually being seen by the under-12 group Mr Gillespie mentions, and thus not adding to the 7,000 violent deaths they will see in those first 12 years of life (and a source for that figure would be nice).
Adults have the right to decide for themselves what they want to watch, read and play. An 18s tag on a film or game reflects this. On the flip side, it is the responsibility of parents, not the Government, to protect their children from material they deem harmful. No responsible parent will allow their child to watch TV without knowing what they're watching, or use the internet without either supervising them while they're using it or at least having some form of net nanny installed.
The same goes for video games. No responsible parent will leave their 10-year-old play Manhunt. And it is not up to the State to act as the responsible parent. Restricting material to people 18 or over is a perfectly rational decision. Banning something so that no one can view it is just plain stupid. If adults can't be trusted to make responsible decisions when it comes to their children, then why on earth are we allowed to vote? - Yours, etc,
EOGHAN NEVIN,
Glencurrig,
South Douglas Road,
Cork.