Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Vice President Kamala Harris is set to advocate for the strengthening of laws that allow the removal of firearms from individuals deemed high-risk as she visits Parkland, Florida, the site of a tragic school shooting in 2018. Harris’s visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School aims to engage with families of the victims and highlight the importance of implementing “red flag” laws.
“Red flag” laws, which enable courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders,” are designed to prevent individuals at risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms. Harris will encourage states to adopt these laws, with six states already utilizing available federal funds to support crisis intervention programs under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Despite Florida’s approval of a red flag law following the Parkland shooting, the state has yet to access federal funding allocated for this purpose. The tragic event, carried out by a former student of the school, underscored the importance of mental health support and gun safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
Critics of red flag laws argue that they infringe upon Second Amendment rights, while proponents emphasize the potential to save lives by preventing gun-related tragedies. President Joe Biden’s administration has prioritized addressing gun violence, with Harris leading efforts to advocate for stricter gun laws and enhance crisis intervention strategies across the country.
Biden’s proposed measures, including a new assault weapons ban and universal background checks for gun sales, face significant challenges in a divided Congress. Amidst political disagreements, the need to address gun violence remains a pressing issue in the United States, where firearm homicides are disproportionately high compared to other high-income countries.
As Harris engages with stakeholders in Parkland, her visit serves as a reminder of the human toll of gun violence and the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent future tragedies. By calling for greater adoption of red flag laws and leveraging available federal resources, Harris seeks to promote safer communities and protect individuals from the devastating impact of gun violence.