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Exclusive interview with Kamala Harris about reducing gun violence

Vice President Kamala Harris was at Charlotte's Eastway Middle School on Thursday to promote the Biden administration's plan to reduce gun violence and announce a $285 million federal government investment in mental health for students nationwide. North Carolina is set to receive $12 million of this federal funding to hire 332 mental health counselors in schools statewide. WCNC Charlotte Anchor Ben Thompson spoke to Harris about how the funding will be used in schools, the state of reproductive rights in this country and what is at stake in the 2024 presidential election. During her visit, Harris spoke to a group of middle school students, some of whom have seen violence firsthand, about what they need in the classroom to improve their learning environment. Harris said that students discussed wanting safe spaces where they could talk about their feelings. The goal of the Biden administration's investment is to do exactly that - give students access to mental health counselors who can help them navigate trauma or confusing feelings in a safe space. A recent WCNC investigation by Nate Morabito found that $40 million in school safety grants in the Carolinas still sits unused. In response, Harris said that she is working to "make sure that the money gets to where it needs to be." Harris also brought up the topic of background checks and incorporating education about the consequences that guns can have on the community into school curriculums in her talk with the students. "Let's put the resources into local school districts to give them what they need to have mental health counselors, to have professionals who can check in," Harris said. Harris also addressed a comment that former President Donald Trump made Wednesday, calling the Supreme Court's ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade a "miracle." Pointing out women in America "have been denied a right to make decisions about their bodies," Harris then added, "One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling them what to do on their own." Ahead of the presidential election later this year, Harris responded to a question about what's at stake in this election emphatically: Fundamental freedoms. Giving people the right to make decisions about their own bodies and health, and the freedom to access the ballot when some states are passing laws that make it more difficult to do so are two issues that Harris mentioned were at stake in this election aside from those of mental health and gun violence. Full story here: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/loc...