John–
The shooter in Buffalo decided to commit mass murder and target Black people when gun extremism fused with his growing white supremacist beliefs.
But according to his own writings, he faced a challenge in planning his attack: He didn't quite know how to do it.
That's where online gun communities came in, including ones that post videos on YouTube, where he found videos that helped him learn tactical combat techniques and even how to evade gun safety laws.
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Right now, YouTube isn't doing enough to moderate videos on its platform that sell or show how to manufacture guns and firearm accessories. We have found hundreds of such videos on YouTube, despite them clearly being prohibited by the company's community guidelines. Other videos on YouTube's platform provide information that enables shooters to increase the rate of fire on their guns and increase the lethality of would-be acts of violence.
While YouTube fails to enforce its existing community guidelines, other violent extremists—like the Buffalo shooter—have access to videos on the platform that could help them prepare to use guns to destroy lives and entire communities.
The Buffalo shooting shows what happens when violent white supremacist extremism is enabled by easy access to firearms and tutorials on illegal firearms modifications and offensive tactics. The video instructions the shooter found on YouTube go far beyond practical and safe firearms training for civilian gun owners—and underscore the responsibility social media platforms have in addressing our gun violence epidemic.
The good news is that we know how to hold major corporations accountable and win. We're ready to raise our voices and demand YouTube do its job. It must enforce its community guidelines, put more resources into moderating content on guns, and be proactive in addressing videos that promote gun extremism.
We cannot afford to let YouTube continue to go unchecked.
Thank you for being a part of this movement.
Shannon Watts
She/Her/Hers
Founder
Moms Demand Action
