The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) could soon have another legal battle on its hands. Although multiple violent video games laws have had injunctions issued against them, each state in the U.S. seems to persist in attempting to pass such legislation. This time it's Oklahoma's turn.

According to GamePolitics, HB3004, which was passed unanimously in March by the House, was approved on a 47-0 vote by the Senate. Apparently, however, a slight amendment was added to the bill by the Senate, which means that it must be approved by the House again. Assuming that happens, the next stop for the legislation is Democratic Governor Brad Henry's desk, where it will await his "John Hancock."

If signed, the bill, which was proposed by State Senator Glen Coffee (R), will officially become a state law on November 1, 2006. You can also bet that the second it's signed the ESA and the IEMA/VSDA (which recently merged) will take immediate legal action to get it overturned.

HB3004 is similar to Utah Rep. David Hogue's violent games bill (dubbed "Games as Porn" bill by media), which died this March because the Utah State Senate never moved the bill out of committee for a floor vote and the deadline passed. Like that bill, the Oklahoma legislation, authored by State Rep. Fred Morgan (R), seeks to amend an existing Oklahoma statute, which defines things considered to be "harmful to minors," including pornography. The bill would add "inappropriate violence," as depicted in many of today's video games, to the statute.

In defining "inappropriate violence" the bill as written also would apply "contemporary community standards" in judging what "interactive video game or computer software is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors."

It's this kind of broad sweeping, yet vague language that has led to the demise of many other similar proposed violent video game bills.