Texas Speaker Targets Online Children’s Game After Uvalde Shooting Simulation

After re-enactments of violent school shootings were discovered on the popular online gaming platform, Roblox, Texas Speaker and Lubbock native Dustin Burrows has introduced a new interim charge directed towards protecting children and bolstering online safety for minors.

Uvalde School Shooting Simulation on Roblox

Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows players all over the world to interact with and build their own virtual worlds. There are also nearly 150 million daily active users on the site, with 40% being under the age of 13.

Due to the sheer number of players creating their own avatars and worlds, certain problematic environments often slip through Roblox's security framework. One such example is the recent discovery of a full simulation of the horrific 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde that left 19 students and two teachers dead. The player would assume the role as the school shooter in this particular game.

Dustin Burrows Targets Roblox

As soon as Speaker Burrows learned of this online recreation for children, he announced on X a renewed effort in guarding the safety of minors online from "violent, explicit, and predatory content."

In response, Burrows issued a new interim charge titled "Protecting Minors on Gaming Platforms," that addresses the issue in multiple ways. According to The Texan News, these include the evaluation of existing safety protocols for online gaming platforms as they determine the effectiveness. The charge also requests that members identify which online platforms prioritize user engagement over safety.

The new interim charge will be included in the 90th Legislative Session next year.

Recent Roblox Lawsuits

Roblox has already been the target for numerous lawsuits, including ones from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2025 on claims that minors were being sexually exploited by adults pretending to be children. Over time, the predators would ask for personal information and even invite the minor to meet in person.

Government Overreach or Justified Actions?

What do you think? Should online behavior be monitored and limited by the government, or by parents? Many of the comments on X responding to Speaker Burrows' post were stating that he has no business telling parents how to protect their children. Others say that this is just one step closer to Texas becoming a "nanny state" by censoring media for the sake of the children.