Vice President Harris will make two announcements on gun violence prevention efforts Saturday in Parkland, Fla., where 14 students and three staff members were killed in a school shooting in 2018.
Harris is set to meet with families of those killed in the mass shooting and will visit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with them, along with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) and state officials. She will then deliver remarks on gun safety measures at 2:45 p.m., according to a White House official.
The vice president will announce the launch of the first-ever National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center, which will aim to help states effectively implement red-flag laws through training and technical assistance. The center will be funded through a Department of Justice grant stemming from the bipartisan gun control bill that President Biden signed into law in 2022.
Harris also will announce an official call to action for states to pass red-flag laws and to use the resources from the bipartisan gun control bill to implement them.
Red-flag laws allow a judge to take away a firearm from someone based on the suspicion that the owner could use it to harm themselves or others.
Under legislation signed by Biden in 2022, six of 21 states eligible for funding have accessed dollars through the program for states that have approved red-flag laws. Fifteen other states have red flag laws and are eligible for funding have not used money from the program so far. Twenty-nine other states have not approved red-flag laws and cannot access the money.
Biden announced in February, on the five-year anniversary of Parkland shooting, that the Department of Justice will give more than $231 million to states for crisis intervention projects, such as red-flag programs.
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Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
