The Supreme Court has just struck down a California law that would have outlawed the sale of violent video games to minors. Yee haw: Free speech covers busting open aliens' heads with a chainsaw!

The ruling found that video games qualify for First Amendment protection, and California's law is unconstitutional: "Crudely video games, tawdry TV shows, and cheap novels and magazines are no less forms of speech than The Divine Comedy." Yeah, no shit. After all, what is a Michael Bay movie but a violent video game with the "game" part taken out? Are we going to outlaw Michael Bay movies? (Alas, no.)

As someone who has spent a shame-inducing amount of time playing video games, this heartens me. Next time I go on a two-day Xbox bender, I'll just say I was "reading my Dante." "Free speech," I'll cry, as I bust my opponents' guts open with a Gatling gun. Just like the founding fathers intended. [Kotaku, CNN, image of Gears of War 3]