KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Public backlash over a video game called "Active Shooter" has swept across the country.
The game allows players to simulate being an active shooter, attacking people in a school, or act as a SWAT team member neutralizing the threat.
Educators and parents in the KC metro are chiming in against the game set to release June 6 on gaming marketplace Steam.
"My sophomore year there was a threat of a shooting posted on social media," said new KC teacher Abbygail Brewster, who said she felt terrified the entire day it was said to happen.
"There was a heavy police presence on campus," said Brewster.
She and thousands of others are outraged by the game "Active Shooter" developed by Revive Games and published by Acid. 100,000 signatures have been gathered on a petitionto stop the game.
It accuses the developer, publisher and seller of trying to profit off of school shootings by turning it into entertainment.
Many metro parents were disturbed by this, especially after there have been 23 school shootings in 2018.
"The idea that somebody wants to make a game out of it is definitely insensitive," said Debbie Butland, who has two grown children and five grandchildren from ages 5 to 25.
Other parents are worried young minds could be impressionable.
"You're letting them go through the experience of what it would be like," said Honour Myers, who's 10-year-old daughter Fiona was by her side.
Fiona doesn't like to play video games, but her friends do.
"Some of them - the video games had shooting," said Fiona Davila, who said students sometimes play them at school while teachers are unaware.
This was troubling for Myers.
"You're giving more energy to it and then it could create make it more of a manifestation," said Myers.
Acid released a clarification statement on Steamabout the game saying it has, "been stormed with accusations and heavy critics from people across the globe."
It also said the game does not promote violence or mass shootings, rather calling it a SWAT simulator.
It did communicate with Valve and said the game could be changed before its release after receiving so much criticism and hate.
There is a disclaimer at the beginning of the game saying it is not recommended for children.
"For somebody to think that's a good idea for a game. I wonder what they are thinking?" said Butland.
Many parents of victims and survivors of school shootings have come out publicly against the game as well as politicians.
