Texas Republican Questions Those Who Say Prayers Not Enough After Shootings

A Texas Republican has hit again at individuals who criticize lawmakers for sending ideas and prayers within the wake of a mass taking pictures.

Rep. Keith Self appeared on CNN after a gunman opened hearth at an outlet mall in Allen on Saturday afternoon.

In an look on CNN, host Paula Reid requested Self for his response to criticism that “prayers aren’t chopping it” in terms of stopping gun violence.

Self, whose district consists of the location of the lethal taking pictures, replied: “Properly, these are individuals that do not consider in an almighty God who, who has, who is totally answerable for our lives. I am a Christian. I consider that he’s.”

The taking pictures on the Allen Premium Retailers despatched lots of of buyers and workers fleeing in panic. Authorities mentioned the gunman, who has not but been named, killed eight and wounded seven others earlier than being killed by a police officer who occurred to be close by.

On CNN, Self advised Reid that he was “completely” involved concerning the rise of mass shootings throughout the nation, earlier than referring to “violence” in huge cities together with “the trashing of shops in Chicago.”

He then went on responsible mass shootings on the closure of psychological well being establishments.

Self additionally mentioned he “want to avoid the politics” and concentrate on the taking pictures victims.

“Prayer is highly effective within the lives of these individuals which might be devastated,” he mentioned. “I do know individuals wish to make this political, however prayers are essential, and they’re highly effective within the households who’re devastated proper now.”

Reid famous that it might be “troublesome” for Self to avoid politics as he’s a politician and elected consultant.

“Congressman, I consider it’s doable to each pray for the victims but in addition assume forward as a politician, as an elected consultant about how you retain your neighborhood protected,” she mentioned.

“We’ll do this, however in the present day, we’re targeted on the households and the victims, praying for them that they’re comforted of their loss, within the tragedy that they suffered in the present day,” Self mentioned.

Self garnered criticism for the interview after a clip went viral on Twitter, amassing tens of millions of views.

“Expensive @RepKeithSelf, please clarify to me why an almighty God who is totally answerable for our lives needs kids to die of gunshot wounds. I’ve by no means understood this,” journalist Helen Kennedy wrote.

Rachel Vindman, co-host of the Suburban Girls Downside podcast, wrote: “That is infuriating. Then why put on seatbelts or take blood stress drugs or protected ingesting water? Let’s simply depend on the almighty to regulate our lives as they see match.”

Samuel Perry, a sociologist, wrote that Self’s response was “simply reciting the identical listing of diversionary speaking factors.”

Perry added: “Responses like this aren’t simply cowardice. They’re evil.”

Bradley P. Moss wrote: “When your fealty to the NRA requires deciding that god wished kids to die in the present day in a taking pictures.”

Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, tweeted that the “GOP coverage of doing nothing aside from issuing ideas and prayers has failed.

“We should move common background checks, a ban on assault weapons, a ban on pistol braces and different gun security reforms into regulation now.”

Earlier this week, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock known as on Congress to take motion after a mass taking pictures in his state.

“As a pastor, I am praying for individuals who are affected by this tragedy, however I hasten to say that ideas and prayers aren’t sufficient,” he mentioned.

“In truth, it’s a contradiction to say that you’re considering and praying after which do nothing. It’s to make a mockery of prayer. It’s to trivialize religion. We pray not solely with our lips, we pray with our legs. We pray by taking motion.”

Newsweek has contacted Self’s workplace for remark by way of e-mail.