Manuel and Patricia Oliver, the parents of Parkland victim Joaquin Oliver, have taken a unique approach to raise awareness about gun violence and the importance of gun control policies. They have launched a video game that aims to challenge players to understand the realities of school shootings and the potential impact of legislation in preventing such tragedies.
In the game, players are tasked with experiencing what Joaquin may have witnessed before his untimely death in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The game features five different bills that players must collect, aiming to educate them on how legislation can play a vital role in preventing future school shootings.
One of the key aspects of the game is the player’s ability to choose between surviving or escaping the game after collecting all the bills. This decision-making process aims to highlight the choices and consequences that individuals face in real-life situations involving gun violence.
Joaquin was only 17 years old when he lost his life in the tragic school shooting. Since then, his parents have been vocal advocates for gun control policies and have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence on communities.
By creating this video game, Manuel and Patricia Oliver hope to engage a broader audience, including gamers, in conversations about gun violence prevention and the urgent need for sensible gun control measures. They believe that by immersing players in a virtual experience that mirrors the harsh realities of school shootings, they can foster empathy and understanding among individuals who may not have directly experienced such traumatic events.
The launch of this controversial video game has sparked a debate among the public, with some praising the innovative approach to raising awareness about gun violence, while others criticize the game for potentially sensationalizing a tragic event.
Despite the controversy surrounding the game, Manuel and Patricia Oliver remain steadfast in their mission to honor Joaquin’s memory by advocating for meaningful change in gun laws and policies. They hope that by engaging individuals in thought-provoking experiences like this video game, they can inspire action and support for legislative measures that can save lives and prevent future tragedies like the one that took their son away.
