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Show by SHARON MCCANN a Voice Less Violent for Videos At a family restaurant not far from her home, Danielle Shimotokahon recently watched an adult and child playing a violent video game. When they played it," toys Shimocakahara, they seemed to be having the best time of their lives. But it's basically killing people. Why would you enjoy that?" That's an insight into this determined teenager who is waging a campaign against violent video games being available in public places where youngsters can watch them. Her efforts were fueled by a senseless catastrophe involving kids and violence when she was 12 the April 1999 tragedy at Columbine High School. My mom helped me write a petition (after Columbine), and 1 asked my principal if I could put it up by the library in my elementary school to see how many people actually felt the sarqg way 1 did," says Shimotakahan. The petition asked buMinfc serving young people in her hometown of North Bend, Ore. including restaurants, skating rinks, and bowling alleys co restrict access by minors co violent video games. We got a lot of signatures from kids and parents,' she says. Then we put the petitions up around the community and we got thousands of signatures. . . ADVERTISEMENT Call Now And Get This Classic Vintage Soon after faxing her petition co state and national legislators, Shimocakahara was invited to speak at the state Capitol, where she testified twice. Oregon Sen. Ken Messerle says the North Bend student brought this issue to die forefront locally statewide, and nationally She helped to get an Oregon stare resolution passed by die iusuy tu jepatscc the violent iLgikMuire in 2GGi. It iuuugiy code movies." do far for we and them use ss games young peoples Shimocakahara also took her cause to the city councils of North Bend (pop. 9,344) and Coos Bay (pop. 15,374). By January 2000, each town had passed resolutions restricting minors' access to violent video games. I was impressed dnr a girl ofher age was so concerned fcr the future of children," says state Rep. Joanne Verger. T think she's made a real difference in Cooe Bay. Shimocakahara didn't stop with the city resolutions. She also campaigned from door to door. . "When she came inco my store," says Teresa Sherwood of Dave's Pizza in North Bend, "she said, hope listen will to me because nobody else has been willing you to remove the violent video games.' I was so amazed with her spunk that I was glad to support her Now we have racing car and sports video games. My vendor scratches his head die majority of video games are violent When violent games are removed, Shimocakahara awards businesses with a sticker she form the in of a designed logo, showing a violent video game with the crossed-osign running Th through it During her campaign, she also produced that assailed violent video games, including a video, and buttons. When the Prudential Spirit of Community honored her in 2000, Shimotakahan distributed her award $13,000 worth of books and ckxhing to Cooc County children and schools. She has given presentations in a variety of venues, indudiug schools. Rotary Clubs, the Million Mom March in Portland, die United Methodist Western Conference, and a U.S. Senate committee hearing on interactive media violence. Though not particularly fond of public speaking, Shimoolcahara's poise and help her in spreading die word. She says she is educating people about what's really out there, because a lot of people don't know. 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