St. Louis School Shooting Highlights Gun Access Issues

Orlando Harris' family sought help from Missouri police to confiscate his bullet-proof vest, ammunition, and AR-15-style rifle due to concerns over his mental health, following multiple suicide attempts. In a state without red-flag laws to prevent access to firearms for individuals deemed a risk, police could only suggest he store the weapon elsewhere. Just nine days later, Harris entered his former high school and opened fire, resulting in the deaths of a student and a teacher, along with injuries to seven others before being shot by police. A 456-page police report reveals the family's urgent efforts to intervene and highlights systemic issues in gun access regulation amid clear warning signs. This case is part of a troubling pattern, as seen in other recent mass shootings, where opportunities to address mental health crises were overlooked. Harris' struggles with depression and a troubled past were documented but ultimately insufficient to prevent the tragedy.