FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – Vice President Kamala Harris is set to advocate for the strengthening of laws that aim to remove firearms from individuals deemed high-risk as she pays a visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Saturday. This high school in Parkland, Florida, tragically became the site of a mass shooting where 17 lives were lost in 2018.
During her visit, Harris plans to meet with families of the victims and inspect the premises where the devastating event unfolded. The focus of her push will be on “red flag” laws, which enable courts to issue orders to confiscate firearms from individuals who are considered to pose a threat to themselves or others.
A White House official mentioned that six states currently have such laws in place and are utilizing $750 million allocated under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to implement crisis intervention strategies. Harris aims to encourage the remaining 29 states without red flag laws to enact them and prompt the 15 states with existing laws to start utilizing the federal funds that are available.
Although Florida had passed a red flag law following the 2018 tragedy at Parkland, the state has yet to make use of the federal funding designated for this purpose. The shooter, who was a former student at the school and 19 years old at the time of the attack, had a history of mental health issues. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Advocates of the red flag laws argue that they infringe upon the Second Amendment right to bear arms, while supporters of gun safety point to studies indicating that such laws can help prevent further fatalities. President Joe Biden has made addressing gun violence a central theme in his potential reelection campaign for 2024, entrusting Vice President Harris, a former prosecutor, with overseeing these efforts.
The United States currently grapples with some of the highest rates of firearm homicides among affluent nations with populations exceeding 10 million, as reported by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Biden is advocating for a new assault weapons ban and universal background checks for all gun transactions, proposals that face significant challenges in a divided Congress. His political opponent, former President Donald Trump, has previously voiced support for red flag laws while opposing broader measures favored by the Biden administration.
The distressing memories of the Parkland shooting linger as the school building where the massacre occurred is slated for demolition this year. The physical remnants of the tragic event, such as bloodstains and bullet holes, serve as stark reminders of the need for continued efforts to address gun violence in the country.