Republican politicians, including Jen Psaki, are attempting to turn the tables on “thoughts and prayers” after mass shootings, arguing that dismissing prayer minimizes the importance and comfort many find in religious faith during times of tragedy and crisis. The idea of offering prayers after a mass shooting has been criticized by Democrats and liberal pundits, who see them as an empty gesture when uncoupled with specific actions on gun control to prevent mass shootings. This week, two children, aged 8 and 12, were killed by a lone shooter targeting a mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school.
Former White House press secretary and MSNBC host Jen Psaki expressed frustration with the senseless shooting that left young people dead, stating that prayers do not end school shootings or make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also remarked on the language surrounding mass shootings, stating that these kids were literally praying. Vice President Vance and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt both criticized Psaki while defending the offering of thoughts and prayers.
The debate over “thoughts and prayers” itself is being used by both sides in negative ways, with some figures claiming that praying is not enough. The frustration over thoughts and prayers is often reflective of broader frustrations with the government for not taking action on gun control, which has resulted in generally weak gun control measures. Many Democrats contend that the debate over the usefulness or appropriateness of prayer is an unhelpful distraction from what they see as the root cause of mass shootings: Ease of access to guns.
