MINNEAPOLIS (LifeSiteNews) – Several prominent Democrats responded to Wednesday’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis by expressing contempt for those responding with prayer to the tragedy in what critics are calling a new low in left-wing extremism.
A gender-confused 23-year-old man named Robert “Robin” Westman opened fire into the church early Wednesday morning, killing two children and injuring 17 other people on the scene before taking his own life. Online videos discovered soon afterward indicate a wide range of extreme views, including a desire for the death of President Donald Trump, hatred of Christianity, Jews, and religion generally, a fascination with school shooters and desire to terrorize children, and even regret for his own transitioning.
The attack elicited the usual wave of anguished and sympathetic statements from across the political and cultural spectrums, including prayers for the victims, their family, and the community. Several on the political left, however, chose those prayers as a target for derision that critics found particularly callous in light of the religiosity of the victims.
Yet another demonic ‘transgender’ shooter has made it clear: We MUST address the rise in anti-Christian hatred on a national level.@WadeSearle_ pic.twitter.com/Z4L8iyMhvh
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“Prayer is not freaking enough,” former Biden administration press secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki declared. “Prayers does not end school shootings. (P)rayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.” (During her time in the White House, Psaki claimed transitioning minors was “the best practice and potentially life-saving.”)
“And don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church,” Democrat Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said. “These are kids that should be learning with their friends. They should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence, and their parents should have the same kind of assurance. These are the sort of basic assurances that every family should have every step of the day, regardless of where they are in our country.”
“These children were probably praying when they were shot to death at catholic school. Don’t give us your f***ing thoughts and prayers,” Florida Democrat state Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost posted. “Trump got rid of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Trump gutted the resources that were in place to keep our communities safe.”
Leftists routinely deride “thoughts and prayers” as a substitute for action in the wake of mass shootings, largely because the only actions they deem acceptable are new gun control restrictions on the general population. Conservatives argue that gun control only leaves law-abiding citizens defenseless against criminals who ignore such laws, citing the fact that seven of the 10 most dangerous cities in America are Democrat-controlled.
In fact, few (if any) individuals who express “thoughts and prayers” for the victims of violence advocate doing nothing else, and in the wake of Wednesday’s murders, discussion has already begun about the need for better mental health screening, the dangers of exacerbating mental illness by giving confused children cross-sex hormones instead of identifying and treating their underlying issues, and instituting professional school security (Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Walz reportedly denied a 2023 request by the Minnesota Catholic Conference for more school security funds).
