1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

<message> The tragic shooting at Apalachee High School underscores the urgent need for red flag laws and an assault weapons ban. A 14-year-old student should never have been able to obtain an assault-style rifle and carry out this devastating attack that claimed four lives and injured nine others. Despite prior warnings and the suspect's concerning behavior, the family still possessed firearms due to gaps in existing laws. Red flag laws would empower law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others through an expedited court process. An assault weapons ban would prohibit the civilian use of military-grade firearms designed for maximum lethality. Together, these measures could prevent future tragedies by keeping deadly weapons away from those who should not have them and limiting access to weapons of war. </message>