EA Sends Illegal Weapons to Game Press

Jason Wong • Apr 15, 2009 • Comments (0)

The word "Oops" is used to express surprise at one's own mistake, clumsy act, or social blunder. Ten bucks says there were more than a few "Oops!" uttered in EA's offices when they decided to send out illegal weapons to video game journalists.

So this is how it went down: EA came up with the brilliant idea to send out brass knuckles with their latest press kits to promote the new Godfather II game. Problem is brass knuckles are illegal in a number of states, including California, where EA is headquartered. Que the awkward silence. Followed by the uncontrolled cold sweats.

Someone in legal must have slept on this, but sadly "What He giveth, He taketh away." Before any lasting emotional attachments could be built, EA is requiring game journalists relinquish their new found powers of the iron fist... as soon as their bubble mailers arrive.

Apparently, EA trusts game journalists enough to send them brass knuckles to use in a mature and responsible manner, but not so much when it comes to disposing them. That's understandable. Something about liability -- blah, blah -- law suits -- blah, blah -- whatever.

Turns out possession of an illegal weapon, i.e. brass knuckles, is a Class I misdemeanor in Colorado. Even distribution of said weapons may be illegal and result in jail time, as per California Penal Code Section 12020(a):

Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives , lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, any undetectable firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearm, any camouflaging firearm container, any ammunition which contains or consists of any flechette dart, any bullet containing or carrying an explosive agent, any ballistic knife, any multiburst trigger activator, any nunchaku, any short-barreled shotgun, any short-barreled rifle, any metal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, any unconventional pistol, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag.

The law is punishable by a imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in state prison.

Did we mention EA was really, really sorry? Hopefully, they'll make early parole with good behavior.