FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the site of the tragic Parkland shooting and advocate for the implementation of new gun laws aimed at preventing future tragedies. The visit comes three years after a gunman took the lives of 17 individuals at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
During her visit, Harris plans to meet with the families of the victims and tour the school where the devastating event occurred. The focus of her advocacy will center around urging states to adopt “red flag” laws, which allow the court to issue orders to remove firearms from individuals deemed high-risk of causing harm.
Currently, only six U.S. states have implemented such laws, with $750 million available for crisis intervention programs under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Harris aims to push for the remaining 29 states without such laws to enact them, as well as encourage the 15 states with existing laws to utilize federal funding.
The Parkland shooter, a former student at the school, was known to have mental health issues. Following the tragedy, Florida passed a red flag law, but has yet to utilize the federal funds available for such programs. The building where the shooting took place is scheduled for demolition this year, with visible reminders of the tragedy still present.
Gun safety advocates argue that red flag laws can help prevent unnecessary deaths, while some individuals see them as infringing on their constitutional rights. President Joe Biden has made gun violence a focal point of his reelection campaign, with Harris leading the efforts to address the issue nationwide.
The United States has been grappling with high levels of firearm-related homicides compared to other high-income countries. Biden has called for Congress to pass new gun control measures, including an assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun sales. Despite the challenges of a divided Congress, the administration remains committed to addressing the issue of gun violence.