More than six years removed from the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in U.S. history, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a new resource center to help states implement red flag laws — laws that allow the temporary removal of firearms from people who may present a danger to themselves or others.
The announcement came Saturday during a visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where she will meet with the families of 17 people who were killed in a 2018 mass shooting.
"Part of why I'm here today is to challenge every state: Pass a red flag law," Harris said in the Stoneman Douglas gym, before indicating to the families standing behind her. "See how these leaders and these parents, through their advocacy born of tragedy, have changed some of the laws in this state — including on that issue — to the betterment of everyone."
Harris reportedly walked the halls of the old high school building with local officials and the families of the victims. The building, which was permanently closed and preserved as evidence until the trial of the shooter was concluded will be demolished this summer, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center will provide training and technical support to the 21 states that have red flag laws. The Center is funded through a Department of Justice grant enabled by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act the Biden-Harris administration enacted in 2022 to prevent and respond to acts of violence. It will be run by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
During her visit, Harris is expected to issue an official call to action for additional states to enact red flag laws. The Biden-Harris Administration has offered $750 million to states’ crisis intervention programs, according to the White House.
"If anyone says, 'well, this is a matter of resources,' I'd invite you to really consider the resources in our children and school officials we have lost because of what has been happening in our country," Harris said, before adding that the White House under President Joe Biden has made about $1 billion available for public school safety, violence prevention, intervention and mental health resources through the Stronger Connections Grant. An additional $2 billion of funds from the American Rescue Plan's school relief funds was directed to hire student mental health experts in K-12 schools.
Red flag laws allow family members or law enforcement to request a court order that temporarily takes away guns from owners who they feel may harm themselves or other people. In addition to states, the new Resource Center will be available to local governments, law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service providers and behavioral health providers.
But of the 21 states that have red flag laws, only six have taken advantage of federal funding to implement those laws.
"Of the 21 that have passed red flag laws, I challenge the others: come on over, we got some resources for you, to help you implement the work that you have done that has been the work of a leader on this tragic issue," Harris said.
For fiscal year 2024, the Department of Justice is expected to make $141 million available to states, territories and the District of Columbia to implement crisis intervention programs, including red flag programs. That funding can be used to train court staff on red flag proceedings, family members about how to react when they see warning signs and first responders to recognize signs of crisis. The funding can also be used to increase public awareness about red flag laws.
Citing research from the Washington Post, the White House said there have been 394 school shootings since the Columbine High School mass shooting in Colorado in 1999. School violence incidents are often preceded by warning signs, such as an individual revealing plans ahead of time, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s National Threat Assessment Center.
Harris acknowledged that there won't be "complete agreement" on what she said must be done to address gun violence, including her repeated calls for universal background checks and assault weapons bans.
"But there are some that frankly, to use a colloquialism, are just no-brainers. And one of the points again that I will emphasize today is the red flag law as a tool that can help us address some of the tragedies that we know have occurred, and occurred here," she said.