Exactly two years after the tragic Uvalde school massacre, families of the victims have filed multiple state lawsuits in California and Texas. The wrongful death lawsuits target social media giant Meta, video game company Activision (known for the popular game “Call of Duty”), and Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the AR-15 rifle used by the teen gunman in the shooting.
Allegations Against the Companies
The families’ lawsuits claim that these companies have been “partnering…in a scheme that preys upon insecure, adolescent boys.” Attorneys argue that Meta and Activision “enabled and emboldened firearm manufacturers’ efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct, and 24/7 access to children.” The gunman, on his 18th birthday, purchased the AR-15 used in the Uvalde shooting because he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision, and Daniel Defense. The companies allegedly conditioned him to see the weapon as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it.
Role of Instagram and “Call of Duty”
The lawsuits highlight the role of Instagram and the “Call of Duty” video game franchise. The Uvalde gunman had been playing “Call of Duty” since he was 15 years old, and the game prominently features a model of the AR-15 (known as DDM4V7) used in the shooting. Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was exposed to explicit, aggressive marketing by Daniel Defense, which extolled the illegal, murderous use of its weapons. On his 18th birthday, the gunman purchased the weapon just eight days before the Uvalde shooting.
Legal Action and Settlement in Uvalde
The families’ legal action comes shortly after they reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde over the Robb Elementary School massacre.
Meta, Activision, and Daniel Defense have yet to comment on the litigation, but the families are seeking accountability and justice for the lives lost in this tragic event2.
The families’ legal action sheds light on the responsibility of companies in promoting firearms and their impact on vulnerable individuals. It underscores the need for ethical marketing practices and awareness of the potential consequences of such promotions. The Uvalde shooting remains a painful reminder of the devastating effects of gun violence in schools.
