FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the site of the tragic Parkland school shooting in Florida. Harris plans to advocate for new gun laws aimed at preventing similar incidents. The visit comes as part of the administration’s efforts to address gun violence in the country.
Harris will meet with families of the victims of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, where 17 lives were tragically lost. The trip will also include a tour of the school, where the devastating event unfolded.
The focus of Harris’s visit will be on advocating for “red flag” laws that empower courts to issue orders to remove firearms from individuals deemed at high risk of causing harm. Several states have implemented such laws, and Harris aims to encourage more states to follow suit.
In addition to pushing for new laws, Harris will also highlight the importance of utilizing federal funds available under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The funds are intended for crisis intervention programs that aim to prevent gun violence.
While some view the red flag laws as infringing on their Second Amendment rights, proponents argue that they can save lives by preventing tragedies like the Parkland shooting. President Joe Biden has made gun violence prevention a key priority, advocating for measures such as an assault weapons ban and universal background checks for gun sales.
The United States has been grappling with high levels of gun violence, particularly in comparison to other high-income countries. Harris’s visit to Parkland underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing this pressing issue and implementing meaningful reforms to prevent future tragedies.