Families of victims of the tragic 2022 elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, have filed two lawsuits against Instagram parent company Meta, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, and gun maker Daniel Defense. The lawsuits allege that these companies collaborated to market dangerous weapons to impressionable teenagers, including the Uvalde shooter. The wrongful death claims argue that Daniel Defense used Instagram and Activision’s Call of Duty video game to market its assault rifles to teenagers, with support from Meta and Microsoft. The companies have not yet responded to these allegations.
The shootings at Robb Elementary School resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in history. The lawsuits were filed by the law firm Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, known for reaching a settlement with rifle maker Remington on behalf of families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
One lawsuit alleges that Instagram provided gun manufacturers with a platform to directly reach minors with minimal supervision. The lawsuit also criticizes Call of Duty for creating a realistic and violent environment that may influence teenagers to become desensitized to violence. The Uvalde shooter, who had never fired a gun before, reportedly played Call of Duty and visited Instagram where Daniel Defense frequently advertised, fueling his obsession with acquiring a weapon.
The other lawsuit accuses Daniel Defense of targeting its advertisements at teenage males to secure lifelong customers. The families’ attorney believes there is a clear connection between the companies’ actions and the Uvalde shooting, claiming that they exposed the shooter to the weapon, normalized its use, and trained him to handle it.
Daniel Defense is also facing other lawsuits from victims’ families, with CEO Marty Daniel dismissing them as frivolous and politically motivated. Additionally, the families have filed a separate lawsuit against state police officers for a botched emergency response, and have reached a settlement with the city of Uvalde.
Overall, the families of the Uvalde shooting victims are seeking accountability and justice from the companies and agencies they believe played a role in the tragedy. The lawsuits highlight the broader issue of gun violence in the United States and the potential influence of video games on young individuals.
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/families-uvalde-school-shooting-victims-205510984.html