Parkland, Florida – Vice President Kamala Harris made a poignant visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Saturday, the site of a tragic shooting that claimed 17 lives in 2018. Harris met with families of the victims and walked the hallways of the school, which will see one of its buildings demolished later this year.
During her visit, Harris called for states to strengthen their laws on seizing firearms from high-risk individuals. Specifically, she urged 29 states without “red flag” laws to enact them and encouraged the 15 states that already have such laws to utilize available federal funds to implement them. These laws enable courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders” to remove firearms from individuals considered a danger to themselves or others.
In response to the 2018 shooting, Florida passed a red flag law, but has yet to utilize the federal funding allocated for this purpose. The shooter, a former student at the school, had a history of mental health issues and was ultimately sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty. The building where the tragedy occurred remains largely untouched since the shooting, serving as a haunting reminder to current students of the devastating event that took place there.
President Joe Biden has placed a strong focus on combating gun violence, designating Vice President Harris to lead this effort. Both leaders have engaged with families impacted by mass shootings across the country. While some critics argue that red flag laws infringe on their Second Amendment rights, advocates for gun safety point to studies that suggest these laws can help prevent deaths.
The United States has faced a troublingly high rate of firearm homicides compared to other high-income countries with large populations. President Biden has proposed measures such as a new assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun sales, but faces challenges in passing these initiatives through a divided Congress. Contrary to Biden’s stance, Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for red flag laws while opposing broader gun control measures favored by the current administration.
As the nation continues to grapple with gun violence, Harris’s visit to Parkland symbolizes the ongoing efforts to address the devastating impacts of such tragedies and strengthen laws to prevent future incidents.