U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will advocate for the implementation of “red flag” laws during her visit to Parkland, Florida, where a tragic school shooting claimed 17 lives in 2018.
These laws enable courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders,” allowing the removal of firearms from individuals deemed at risk of harming themselves or others.
Harris intends to meet with the families of the victims and tour Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of the shooting.
She aims to encourage states without such legislation to enact it while urging those with existing laws to utilize federal funding provided under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Currently, only six states have implemented “red flag” laws and accessed the allocated $750 million for crisis intervention programs. Harris seeks to push the remaining 29 states to adopt similar measures and motivate the 15 states with existing laws to utilize federal funds effectively.
Despite Florida’s approval of a red flag law post-2018, it has yet to utilize federal funding for this purpose. The shooter, a former student with a history of mental health issues, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The school building where the tragedy unfolded is set for demolition, remaining virtually unchanged since the incident, serving as a somber reminder of the lives lost.
While some critics argue that red flag laws infringe on Second Amendment rights, advocates stress their potential to prevent further tragedies. President Joe Biden has prioritized gun violence prevention, tasking Harris with leading the initiative.
The U.S. faces a significant challenge, as it grapples with the highest rate of firearm homicides among high-income nations.
Biden seeks to enact stricter gun control measures, including an assault weapons ban and universal background checks but faces resistance in Congress. Republican opposition presents hurdles, despite previous support for red flag laws from some members.
Harris’s visit underscores the urgency of addressing gun violence and implementing preventative measures nationwide.