Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, addressed the recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, during a campaign rally in New Hampshire on September 4, 2024.
According to Salon, Harris deviated from her prepared remarks to discuss the tragedy that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, with at least nine more victims hospitalized.
Harris expressed her frustration with the ongoing issue of gun violence in schools, recounting her experiences visiting college campuses and discussing the topic with students. She emphasized the need to end what she called the "epidemic of gun violence" in the United States.
During her speech, Harris shared an anecdote from her previous campus visits, where she asked students about their experiences with active shooter drills. She noted that every student she encountered had participated in such drills during their K-12 education.
Harris stated:
I'm going off script right now, but listen. One of the things that I asked every time that I went to an auditorium … raise your hand if at any point from kindergarten to 12th grade you had to go through an active shooter training. Every hand went up.
The Vice President expressed her dismay at the reality that parents in the United States must worry about their children's safety when sending them to school.
The shooting at Apalachee High School involved a 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, who will be charged with murder and tried as an adult. Chris Hosey, the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, reported that Gray used an AR-platform-style weapon in the attack, which took place on the school's football field.
While Georgia law prohibits minors from purchasing firearms, adults can obtain rifles, handguns, or shotguns without a permit or registration. Authorities have not disclosed how Gray acquired the weapon used in the shooting, though it was noted that his father kept hunting weapons at home but did not allow unsupervised access.
In addition to Harris's comments, other political figures have responded to the shooting. President Joe Biden issued a statement calling on Republicans to support gun control measures, including an assault weapons ban, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, and expanded background checks for gun purchasers.
Former President Trump also commented on the incident via Truth Social, expressing sympathy for the victims but not addressing gun control policy.
The shooting has reignited the ongoing debate about gun control in the United States, with Democrats pushing for stricter regulations and Republicans generally opposing such measures.
Harris reiterated her stance on gun control during her rally speech:
It's just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive.
The Apalachee High School shooting marks the first major incident of its kind since Harris became the Democratic nominee for president, adding significance to her comments and potentially shaping the gun control debate in the upcoming election.
