The parliament of Venezuela has approved a law that will ban the production, import, and sale of violent video games -- on pain of imprisonment.

The law comes into effect in three months, with sentences for offenders ranging from three to five years.

Toy guns will also be banned; these measures are intended to somehow curb gun violence amongst the tiny South American country's troubled youth.

Aye carumba!

Venezuelan gamers are livid; Guido Nuñez-Mujica, a young man soon to be affected by this Draconian law, has posted a lengthy essay online expressing his outrage:

"This law makes selling video games to anybody actually worse than giving real guns or cigarettes to a minor, or even forcing him or her to work, as you get less jail time and lower fines if you do any of those things.

"These games are a cherished part of my life, they helped to shape my young mind, they gave me challenges and vastly improved my English, opening the door to a whole new world of literature, music and people from all around the world. Now, thanks to the tiny horizons of the cast of morons who govern me, thanks to the stupidity and ham-fisted authoritarianism of the local authorities, so beloved of so many liberals, my 7 year old brother's chances to do the same could be greatly impacted.

"But I'd rather go to jail than betray the gamer culture, partially responsible for making me the person I am today."

Nuñez-Mujica makes the case that Venezuela's explosion in violent crime has less to do with video games, and more to do with the inspired leadership of el presidente Hugo Chávez...