Remember when games such as "Mortal Kombat" and "Doom" first emerged? They were some of the most violent, blood-ridden titles gamers ever had in their hands, and they were immensely popular.

Since those days, the trend of video-game violence has only become more pronounced. Games such as the "Grand Theft Auto" titles and "Manhunt" glorify murder, theft and prostitution.

Although it is both unreasonable and unconstitutional to argue that such games should not be permitted in American society, it is more than sensible to limit their availability to minors.

That's why a bill to prohibit children under the age of 17 from buying violent video games - sponsored by state Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit - should pass in Congress. It only makes sense.

Currently, legislation does not allow children in that age group to purchase tickets for R-rated films. It seems reasonable that kids shouldn't be able to feast on the violent images so prevalent in those films while in their formative years - at least without adult consent.

That said, it's odd we don't yet have legislation that prevents children from purchasing something that actually puts them behind the trigger. They cannot view someone being shot without their parents' permission, but they can shoot a pixelated image of a human to their heart's content.

There has always been a debate as to whether violent images foster violence in the youth that feed off of them. A University of Michigan professor claims that violent video games unquestionably make children behave more aggressively "in the short run." Regardless of that statement's truth, it stands to reason that a child who could already have a skewed view of reality might react to a game like "Grand Theft Auto 3" and act out.

Parents should have the right to mediate the type of images their children are fed on a daily basis. It's not censorship, it's smart parenting.

In a day and age when media are increasingly pushing the envelope and showing more and more graphic scenes, Sen. Clarke's legislation is a useful tool. It might even be a bit overdue.