Families in Uvalde, Texas, where a school shooting claimed the lives of 19 elementary school students and two teachers, have filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, the owner of Instagram, the maker of the video game “Call of Duty,” and the manufacturer of the AR-15 assault rifle used in the massacre. The lawsuit alleges that these companies bear responsibility for the products used by the shooter and that there is a direct line between their conduct and the shooting. The damages being sought in the lawsuit were not specified, but the families claim that the shooter was exposed to the rifle and trained to use it through the video game.
The Uvalde shooter had played different versions of “Call of Duty” since he was 15, including one that allowed him to practice with the same rifle used in the shooting. The families also accused Instagram of failing to enforce rules prohibiting the marketing of firearms and harmful content to children. A video game industry trade group stated that research has found no link between video games and violent acts, and discouraged baseless accusations against video games in connection to tragedies like the Uvalde shooting. Activision, the maker of “Call of Duty,” expressed sadness and outrage over the shooting and extended sympathies to the affected families and communities.
Daniel Defense CEO Marty Daniels condemned the Uvalde shooting as “pure evil” and “deeply disturbing.” Families impacted by the tragedy have filed a separate $500 million lawsuit against 91 Texas Department of Public Safety officers and the local school district over their response to the shooting. Local law enforcement faced criticism for hesitating to confront the shooter, which some believe could have saved lives. More than 370 federal, state, and local officers were on the scene, but it took over 70 minutes before a team led by Border Patrol agents confronted and killed the shooter. The families are calling for accountability and questioning the resources and training available to law enforcement in Uvalde.
The families involved in the lawsuit believe that companies like Meta Platforms, Activision, and Daniel Defense share responsibility for the Uvalde shooting by providing access to the weapon, conditioning the shooter to see it as a solution to his problems, and training him to use it. The lawsuit was filed on the two-year anniversary of the shooting and seeks unspecified damages. The shooter had a history of playing violent video games and was able to practice with the same rifle he used in the shooting through a video game. The families criticized Instagram for not enforcing rules against marketing firearms and harmful content to children.
The Uvalde shooting and others like it have been called “senseless acts of violence” that are deeply disturbing. Despite calls to focus on the root issues behind these tragedies, the video game industry has been pushed back against baseless accusations linking video games to violence. The families impacted by the Uvalde shooting are seeking justice and accountability for the actions of law enforcement and the response to the shooting. They question the resources and training available to officers in Uvalde and believe that hesitation on the part of law enforcement contributed to the loss of lives in the shooting. The families have also filed a separate lawsuit against Texas Department of Public Safety officers and the school district over their handling of the shooting.
