On the sixth anniversary of the Parkland, Fla., shooting, parents who have lost children to gun violence are employing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate their children’s voices. Through this innovative campaign, they are making calls to Congress, urging lawmakers to take action and reform the nation’s gun laws.
Gun control advocacy groups Change the Ref and March For Our Lives have joined forces to create an innovative platform called The Shotline. This platform enables individuals to send AI-generated voices of six gun violence victims directly to members of Congress.
Joaquin Oliver, a victim of the tragic 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., has his voice prominently featured on the Shotline’s website. In memory of their son, Oliver’s parents established Change the Ref, an organization dedicated to bringing about change and preventing such senseless acts of violence.
“Back when I was a senior at Parkland, a tragic incident unfolded on Valentine’s Day. Many lives were lost, both students and teachers, all due to someone wielding an AR-15. It’s disheartening to realize that despite the passing of six long years, nothing has been done to address the ongoing issue of shootings that persistently plague our society. It’s clear that you, the ones in power, have shown a complete lack of concern or action.”
The website showcases the AI-generated voice of 10-year-old Uziyah “Uzi” Garcia, who tragically lost his life in the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Uzi’s father, Brett Cross, recently shared a heartfelt message from his son on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“For 631 days, we have been the voice of Uziyah,” Cross expressed in the post. “Today, his voice carries a message for everyone, particularly our politicians.”
Over 5,000 calls have been submitted to members of Congress, as reported by The Shotline website.
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