Parkland, Florida – Vice President Kamala Harris visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Saturday, the site of a tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 17 individuals in 2018. During her visit, Harris met with families of the victims and toured the halls of the school, which is set to be demolished later this year.
Harris’s visit to the high school is part of her push to urge states to strengthen laws regarding the seizure of firearms from high-risk individuals. Specifically, she is calling on 29 states without “red flag” laws to implement them, and encouraging 15 states with existing laws to utilize available federal funds to enforce these measures.
“Red flag” laws enable courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders” to remove firearms from individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. Currently, six states have such laws and are utilizing funds from the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to support crisis intervention programs.
Despite Florida passing a red flag law following the 2018 shooting in Parkland, the state has yet to utilize federal funding for this purpose. The shooter, a former student at the high school, had a history of mental health issues. He ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
The building where the tragedy occurred still stands, largely unchanged since the shooting, with visible reminders such as bloodstains and bullet holes. The presence of this building serves as a constant and somber reminder of the devastating event for students and faculty alike.
President Joe Biden has made gun violence prevention a focal point of his 2024 reelection campaign and has enlisted Vice President Harris to lead the charge. Both have engaged with individuals affected by mass shootings across the nation as part of their efforts to address this pressing issue.
While some critics argue that red flag laws infringe upon Second Amendment rights, advocates for gun safety point to studies suggesting that these laws can help prevent unnecessary deaths. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine reports that the United States has the highest rate of firearm homicides among high-income countries with populations exceeding 10 million.
Biden, a Democrat, is advocating for the implementation of a new assault weapons ban and universal background checks for all gun sales in the U.S., although these measures face significant hurdles in a politically divided Congress. On the other hand, former President Donald Trump has expressed support for red flag laws but has opposed broader measures championed by Biden.