John–

Last week, we started turning up the heat on YouTube. For too long, the
video-streaming giant has failed to enforce its own Community Guidelines
with respect to guns. It's hosted, and continues to hosts, a virtual
library of extensive firearm instructional videos accessible by extremists
like the Buffalo shooter. And shockingly, it includes videos on tactical
combat techniques and how to illegally modify weapons.

The shooter in Buffalo who committed mass murder and targeted Black people
in May extensively documented his YouTube consumption, providing a tragic
example of how this dangerous content on YouTube played a role in enabling
someone to plan a horrific act of violence.

We need YouTube to take this crisis seriously and help prevent gun
violence. Lives are at stake.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name to demand YouTube enforces its community guidelines to
combat armed extremism.

[ [link removed] ]ADD MY NAME

Thank you for being a part of this movement.

Everytown for Gun Safety

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Shannon Watts, Moms Demand Action
Date: August 12, 2022
Subject: The Buffalo shooter used YouTube to access information on
tactical firearms training. Sign the petition to demand action:

[ [link removed] ]Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

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.

[ [link removed] ]We're calling on YouTube to enforce its community guidelines to combat
armed extremism. Lives are at risk—Sign the petition today.

[ [link removed] ]ADD MY NAME

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


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