FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – In a move to advocate for stricter gun laws, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the site of the tragic Parkland shooting where 17 lives were lost in 2018. Harris aims to urge states to enhance legislation enabling the confiscation of firearms from individuals deemed high-risk.
Scheduled to meet with the families of the victims and tour Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the scene of the devastating incident, Harris embarks on this journey propelled by a White House official’s confirmation.
Under the spotlight are the “red flag” laws, granting courts the authority to issue “extreme risk protection orders,” thereby removing firearms from individuals exhibiting potential harm to themselves or others.
Six states have already enacted such laws and are utilizing a substantial $750 million provided by the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to implement crisis intervention programs, as revealed by the official.
During her visit, Harris will advocate for the remaining 29 states lacking such laws to enact them, while also encouraging the 15 states already equipped with legislation to utilize the available federal funds.
Although Florida passed a red flag law post the 2018 shooting, it has yet to utilize the federal funding allocated, according to the official statement.
The perpetrator of the Parkland shooting, a former student aged 19 at the time, had a documented history of mental health issues. He eventually pleaded guilty and received a life sentence.
The physical remnants of the tragic incident remain poignant, with the building where the shooting occurred scheduled for demolition this year. Bloodstains and bullet holes serve as somber reminders of the tragedy that unfolded in 2018.
While some critics view red flag laws as encroachments upon constitutional rights to bear arms, proponents argue that they can potentially prevent loss of life, citing certain studies.
Gun violence has emerged as a focal point in President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign, with Harris, a former prosecutor, spearheading efforts to address the issue. Their nationwide travels aim to connect with families impacted by mass shootings.
Statistics from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine underscore the grim reality, positioning the United States with the highest firearm homicide rates among high-income nations with populations exceeding 10 million.
In his bid for reelection, Democrat Joe Biden advocates for congressional approval of a new assault weapons ban and the mandatory implementation of background checks for all gun sales across the nation. However, given the current political divide, passing such measures remains a daunting task, especially with opposition from Republican candidate Donald Trump, who previously supported red flag laws but remains opposed to broader gun control initiatives proposed by Biden.
