The families of the Uvalde victims have taken legal action against Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the AR-15 assault rifle, as well as Activision, the publisher of the popular first-person shooter video game series “Call of Duty,” and Meta, the parent company of Instagram. They allege that these companies played a part in promoting the use of the gun involved in the tragic shooting.
The lawsuit claims that the companies collaborated to promote the weapon to underage boys through gaming platforms and social media.
According to the attorney representing the families, Josh Koskoff, it has been alleged that Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old shooter responsible for the tragic incident, purchased the DDM4V7 rifle just one week before the shooting. This purchase took place several months after Ramos had started playing a version of the game and had made multiple Instagram posts about weapons.
According to a statement by Koskoff, this three-headed monster purposely exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to view it as a solution to his problems, and provided training on how to use it.
ABC News reached out to Daniel Defense, Activision, and Meta for comment on the lawsuit, but they have not yet responded.
In a statement to the New York Times, Activision expressed their deepest sympathies to the families in Uvalde. They also emphasized that millions of people worldwide enjoy video games without resorting to horrific acts.
The lawsuit argues that the “Call of Duty” franchise portrays gun violence in a realistic manner, with authentic weapons.
According to the lawsuit, the firearms are meticulously crafted to replicate the appearance, sensation, kickback, and precision of their real-life counterparts.
The attorneys expressed their concern, stating, “Through Instagram’s approval and support, individuals selling assault weapons can flood teenagers with content that glorifies lone shooters, perpetuates stereotypes of sex and hypermasculinity, and guides them towards purchasing the weapons they have tested in Call of Duty.”
The lawsuit claims that a firearms marketing agency has highlighted the existence of significant loopholes in the advertising regulations for Facebook and Instagram. These loopholes allegedly allow organic posts promoting firearms to appear on the platforms.
According to the lawsuit, the individual responsible for the shooting was actively targeted with explicit and aggressive marketing on Instagram. Tragically, the shooter was ultimately killed by law enforcement during the incident.
According to the lawsuit, he downloaded “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” a game from 2019, in November 2021. The suit also claims that he has been playing a mobile version of the game since he was 15.
According to the lawsuit, the shooter reportedly started “researching firearms on his phone and browsing Daniel Defense’s website” after buying the game.
According to the lawsuit, the shooter is said to have registered an account on Daniel Defense’s website and added the DDM4 V7 to his cart.
The lawsuit claims that the shooter was completely consumed by excitement, constantly searching online to find out how many days were left until his birthday on May 16.
Friday’s lawsuit represents the most recent legal action pursued in both criminal and civil courts following the occurrence of the shooting incident.
Nineteen families have recently reached a settlement with the city of Uvalde, resulting in a total payout of $2 million from the city’s insurance coverage.
The families, as part of the settlement, have actively participated in the ongoing efforts to enhance the Uvalde Police Department. Moreover, the settlement agreement includes specific provisions outlining how the city should provide support to the community as its residents heal. This includes the establishment of a committee tasked with designing a permanent memorial, with funding provided by the city.
This week, the families also made the announcement of filing lawsuits against 92 Texas Department of Public Safety officers. The lawsuit specifically targets the Uvalde School District and a number of its employees, including the former principal and former school district police chief.
According to their attorney, the families are also intending to file a lawsuit against the federal government. It is worth mentioning that there were over 150 federal officers present at the school.
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