Kamala Harris Goes ‘Off Script’ in Remarks About Georgia School Shooting

During her visit to New Hampshire on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris departed from her prepared remarks to address the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia.
Before delivering her planned speech at a rally in Portsmouth, where the Democratic presidential nominee intended to outline her small business proposals, Harris took a moment to reflect on the shooting that left four dead and nine injured.
“It is just outrageous that every day in the United States of America, parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive,” Harris said.
She then recounted a personal experience from earlier this year, when she toured a school and spoke with students. Harris recalled asking how many of them had participated in active shooter drills. To her dismay, nearly every student raised their hand.
“They are sitting in a classroom where they should be fulfilling their God-given potential, yet some part of their big, beautiful minds is worried about a shooter breaking through the door,” Harris said. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that one person is in custody after the mass shooting. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said during a press conference this afternoon the shooting was first reported at 9:30 a.m. The high school, in Barrow County, went on “hard lockdown” during the shooting. All other schools in the county were placed on lockdown as a “precautionary measure.”
The Democratic nominee also urged lawmakers to take action on key issues like voting rights and gun control, presenting the push for reform as a proactive effort rather than a fight against any particular group. She called for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Freedom to Vote Act and stronger gun control measures.
“It’s a fight for something, not against something,” Harris said. “Let us finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Let us finally pass an assault weapon ban and universal checks and red flag laws.”
Harris also rejected the idea that supporting the Second Amendment and advocating for gun safety are contradictory, emphasizing the need for balanced regulations.
“It’s a false choice to be in favor of the Second Amendment or want to take guns away,” Harris said. “I’m in favor of the Second Amendment and I know we need reasonable gun safety laws in our country.”
Former President Donald Trump also addressed the Georgia shooting, posting a statement on social media.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones in Winder, GA. These precious children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged individual,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
After addressing the shooting, Harris shifted back to her prepared remarks, unveiling a plan aimed at expanding tax incentives for small businesses. at I call an ‘opportunity economy.'”
Her plan also includes measures to help existing small businesses grow by providing low- and no-interest loans, as well as cutting through the bureaucratic red tape that often hinders business expansion.
“I believe America’s small businesses are the essential foundation of our entire economy,” Harris continued. “They generate revenue that helps repair our roads and pay our teachers.”
Additionally, she promised to simplify tax filing for small businesses, making it “cheaper and easier” by introducing a process similar to the old 1040-EZ form for individuals.
Harris emphasized that her vision allows everyone – “regardless of who they are or where they start” – to work with dignity, join a union if they choose, or start a business with access to the necessary tools and resources.
Harris’ New Hampshire trip is a rare deviation for a candidate who is spending most of her time in Midwest and Sun Belt states with pivotal roles in November’s election.
Wednesday’s stop comes after Harris marked Labor Day with Monday rallies in Detroit and Pittsburgh and before she heads back to Pittsburgh on Thursday — marking her 10th visit to Pennsylvania in 2024.
Follow Newsweek’s live U.S. Election blog for updates.
Update 9/4/24, 4:55 p.m. ET: This article was updated with Donald Trump’s social media comment about the shooting.