In a poignant visit, Vice President Kamala Harris is set to tour the Parkland high school building where the devastating massacre took place in 2018. Accompanied by victims' family members who are advocating for stricter gun laws and enhanced school safety measures, Harris aims to shed light on the failures that led to the tragic event and discuss potential solutions.

The three-story building, which has remained boarded up and fenced off since the February 14 shooting that claimed the lives of 14 students and three staff members, serves as a somber reminder of the devastating incident for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's 3,600 students. Previously, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and several members of Congress had also visited the building.

During her visit, Harris will witness bullet-ridden walls, blood-stained floors, and shattered glass, as well as personal belongings left behind, including shoes, Valentine's Day decorations, textbooks, and papers. The building has been described as a "time capsule," encapsulating the failures in law enforcement response, teacher training, and threat assessments in the lead-up to the tragedy, according to Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Stoneman Douglas alumnus involved in organizing the visit.

While some families of Parkland victims and President Joe Biden support a ban on the sale of AR-15s and similar firearms, mirroring the restrictions imposed from 1994 to 2004, the necessary support in Congress remains insufficient. Opponents argue that such a ban would infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of individuals and have a limited impact on reducing gun violence.

Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son Scott Beigel was among the teachers killed in the shooting, expressed hope that Harris's visit would help her understand the true aftermath of a mass shooting. She emphasized Harris's awareness of the importance of gun violence prevention, but highlighted the emotional impact of experiencing the actual building where the tragedy unfolded.

Max Schachter, another grieving parent whose 14-year-old son Alex died in the shooting, utilizes such tours to advocate for improved school safety measures, including bullet-resistant doors and windows. Schachter believes that school safety is an issue that can unite individuals on both sides of the gun control debate. He cited a successful visit by Utah officials that led to the state implementing a $100 million plan to fortify its schools.

In addition to the tour, the White House announced that Harris would introduce a program providing technical assistance and training to Florida and the 20 other states with similar "red flag laws." These laws allow temporary firearm seizure for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others with a judge's approval. Harris will also call on states without such laws to adopt them.

However, Senator Rick Scott, who signed Florida's red flag law as governor in response to the Parkland shooting, criticized the Biden administration's proposed national red flag law as "radical." He raised concerns over the potential similarity to California's law, which allows a broader range of individuals to initiate the process, although judicial approval is still required for firearm removal.

The Parkland school building has been preserved as evidence for the upcoming penalty trial of the shooter, and some victims' families are in opposition to the planned demolition of the structure by the Broward County school district. These families believe that preserving the building for further visits by officials would help shed light on the need for improved safety measures.

Despite differing views on gun control, these tours provide officials with insights and contribute to important discussions. Moskowitz believes there is extensive support in Congress for increased investment in school safety and the implementation of a federal red flag law.