During her visit to New Hampshire on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris deviated from her prepared remarks and addressed the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.

Before the Democratic presidential candidate delivered her scheduled speech at a rally in Portsmouth where she planned to outline her proposals for small businesses, Harris took a moment to reflect on the shooting that left four people dead and nine injured.

“It is simply outrageous that parents in the United States of America have to send their children to school every day and worry about whether or not they will come home alive,” Harris said.

She then recounted a personal experience earlier this year when she toured a school and spoke to students. Harris recalled asking how many of them had participated in school shooting drills. To her dismay, nearly every student raised their hand.

“They’re sitting in a classroom where they should be fulfilling their God-given potential, and yet part of their big, beautiful mind is worried about a shooter breaking through the door,” Harris said. “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that one person is in custody following the mass shooting. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said during a press conference this afternoon that the shooting was first reported at 9:30 a.m. Winder High School in Barrow County was placed on “hard lockdown” during the shooting. All other schools in the county were placed on lockdown as a “precautionary measure.”

The Democratic candidate also called on lawmakers to take action on key issues such as voting rights and gun control. She portrayed the reform effort as a proactive effort rather than a fight against a specific group. She called for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Freedom to Vote Act and stricter gun control measures.

“It’s a fight for something, not against something,” Harris said. “Let’s finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Let’s finally pass an assault weapons ban and universal checks and red flags.”

Harris also rejected the notion that supporting the Second Amendment and advocating for gun safety are contradictory, stressing the need for balanced regulations.

“It’s a false choice to be pro-Second Amendment or to want to take away guns,” Harris said. “I’m pro-Second Amendment and I know we need common sense gun safety laws in our country.”

As of 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump had neither made a statement about the Georgia shooting nor posted anything about it on social media. Newsweek reached out to his campaign team on Wednesday afternoon and asked for comment.

After addressing the shooting, Harris returned to her prepared remarks and unveiled a plan to expand tax incentives for small businesses. I call it an “opportunity economy.”

Their plan also includes measures to encourage the growth of existing small businesses by providing low-interest or interest-free loans and to reduce the bureaucratic burdens that often stand in the way of business expansion.

“I believe America’s small businesses are the essential foundation of our entire economy,” Harris continued. “They generate revenue that helps fix our roads and pay our teachers.”

In addition, she promised to simplify tax filing for small businesses, making it “cheaper and easier” by introducing a process similar to the old Form 1040-EZ for individuals.

Harris stressed that her vision enables 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’ trip to New Hampshire represents a rare departure from reality for a candidate who spends most of her time in the Midwestern and Sun Belt states that will play a key role in November’s election.

Wednesday’s stop comes after Harris marks Labor Day on Monday with rallies in Detroit and Pittsburgh and before returning to Pittsburgh on Thursday – her 10th visit to Pennsylvania in 2024.

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This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information.