‘Active Shooter’ Game Sparks Major Backlash

The concept of a new computer video game has lawmakers and parents of school shooting victims outraged.

The forthcoming game will allow players to simulate an active shooter situation from the perspective of a SWAT team member or the shooter themselves. News of this game comes among the recent tragedies and fiery debates over gun control.

Active Shooter will release on June 6, just 19 days after the 23rd U.S. school shooting of 2018. Since news of the video game hit the market, thousands have expressed their anger and demand that the game be pulled.

Parents of victims of the Parkland, Fla. shooting this past February are among the voices advocating against the release of the video game.

I have seen and heard many horrific things over the past few months since my daughter was the victim of a school shooting and is now dead in real life. This game may be one of the worst.

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 27, 2018

Despicable. Let @steam_games know games depicting “active shooter” scenarios in schools, where players shoot civilians, students & law enforcement are unacceptable. https://t.co/7utMvVqYzT

— Ryan Petty (@rpetty) May 27, 2018

Florida Senator Bill Nelson has also spoken out against the company and its plans to launch the game.

This is inexcusable. Any company that develops a game like this in wake of such a horrific tragedy should be ashamed of itself. https://t.co/jjp6LxNWhC

— Senator Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) May 28, 2018

An online petition is urging Valve, an American video game developer, not to release the video game. There are over 85,000 signatures as of today.