In "Harrison Bergeron," what does Kurt Vonnegut seem to say about individuality?

In "Harrison Bergeron," Kurt Vonnegut implies that human individuality is dangerous to a society that feels the need to control its citizens. The entire story revolves around this idea that "everybody was finally equal." But people weren't equal in actual ability or opportunity. Instead, the United States passed Constitutional amendments to ensure that everyone was equal in inability. In other words, the government (particularly the handicapper general) instituted a system of control that removes all individuality from America's citizens.

Vonnegut's first examples of this idea of control by removing citizens' individualities are George and Hazel Bergeron. Hazel suffered from "perfectly average intelligence" while George's "intelligence was way above normal." Regardless of George's mental superiority and his ability use this intelligence for the common good, the government, under the direction of the handicapper general required George to wear "a little mental handicap radio in his ear ... at all times." Intermittently, the government would send out distracting sounds that would prevent George (and others with above average intelligence) from thinking too hard, thus possibly challenging the system of control the U.S. government has instituted.

Harrison Bergeron, George and Hazel's son, exemplifies Vonnegut's statement about the power of human individuality to challenge a system of control. Vonnegut indicates the power of individuality as Harrison, at the story's climax, "tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper" and "snapped [his head harness] like celery." In addition, Harrison leaps 30 feet into the air with the ballerina he chose to be his empress. However, Vonnegut, again, shows how the government and other powers fear individuality. In the middle of this expression of the self, Diana Moon Glampers, the handicapper general comes in with a shotgun and kills Harrison and his empress.

By the end of the story, it is clear what Vonnegut is implying: stick with the system of control and lack any form of self and live or rip off the shackles of control, soar to the roofs of building with a single leap and die.