A recent study conducted by the Parents Television Council, the same people who flipped a bitch with their so-called "alert" a few months ago reveals that major retailers have been selling Mature-rated games to minors 36% of the time.

The study, conducted over a nine-month period by 16 PTC grassroots organizations in 16 states, shows a higher rate of sales to minors than a similar report issued by the Federal Trade Commission in May of 2008. For purposes of research, the PTC wrangled up young'uns ranging from ages of 11-16 and asked them to wander into said offending retailers and attempt to buy a copy of the crimes-to-humanity that are Mature games. To be totally up-front with their secret shopper campaign, PTC asked participants never to lie about their age when buying games.

In a breakdown of retailers and their corresponding percentages of sales to minors, the heavy hitters - Kmart (50%), Hollywood Video (50%), Target (41%), and Toys "R" Us (40%) - seemed to be stores that don't even specialize in the sale of video games, much less, electronics. (The strange exception to this rule was Circuit City, who are apparently leading their own personal crusade to corrupt the minds of our children, with a whopping 60%.)

Best Buy and Gamestop, however, racked up only 8% each, the lowest of any retailer surveyed.

Now, what's PTC's solution to this plague of debauchery, you ask? Support Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and his own version of the much dreaded Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act, of course!

"The industry must do more to prevent minors from purchasing M-rated video games – there is no excuse ..." PTC President Tim Winter said, "We encourage concerned citizens to contact their Congressional representatives to ensure that the video game industry will become more responsible. America’s children need to be protected from harmful exposure to these products, and parents should be able to rely on the industry’s promises."

Now, the question of how KMart qualifies as a member of the "video game industry" is one for another day.