Florida state senator: Only thoughts and prayers will stop evil behind shootings

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/The Hill

A Florida state senator said the only thing that is going to stop "the evil" behind mass shootings is to send "thoughts and prayers."

During a debate on a proposed assault weapons ban in the Florida legislature on Saturday, state Sen. Kelli Stargel (R) said she finds it offensive when people tell her that the kind words are not enough to stop mass shootings.

"When we say 'thoughts and prayers,' it's frowned upon. And I take real offense at that because thoughts and prayers are really the only thing that's gonna stop the evil from within the individual who is taking up their arms to do this kind of a massacre."

It's not the weapon that matters, Stargel said, but rather "the evil from within" that causes people to commit heinous crimes.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-state-senator-only-%E2%80%98thoughts-and-prayers%E2%80%99-will-stop-evil-behind-shootings/ar-BBJRFvn?li=BBnbfcL

[DonCoquixote]

1. the evil

does not seem to show in japan, or France, or India, Or China, where the video games and movies are every bit as bad as the stuff here..

[DBoon]

5. And with the possible exception of France

None of those countries are Christian. If there are thoughts and prayers, they are not addressed to the Christian god.

[azureblue]

11. the evil

is the gun used to kill people..

[lagomorph777]

43. The evil is the NRApublican Party (and #NRAROUBLES)

Only voters can stop it. I hope.

[PatrickforO]

2. Seems like she's purposely missing the point.

I don't frown on someone sending 'thoughts and prayers' to victims of a tragedy.

What I frown on is if that is ALL they do.

[More_Cowbell]

20. I don't pray myself, but I always thought people sent "thoughts and prayers" to help the survivors

They don't STOP anything. Why would it help to pray to a God who, presumably, could already have stopped things?

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

3. "Thoughts and prayers" means you don't have to change a damned thing.

God forbid any member of the GOP/NRA do anything that would actually make a difference.

[forgotmylogin]

14. Reminds me of this.

http://epistle.us/inspiration/godwillsaveme.html

A terrible storm came into a town and local officials sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.

A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”

The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”

As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”

The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”

The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.

A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”

Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.

When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”

And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for?”

[Skittles]

4. delusional, sanctimonious gun humper

[Javaman]

6. shit in one hand and pray in the other...

see which fills up faster.

[democratisphere]

7. I don't believe anyone has ever seen bullets bounce off of thoughts and prayers.

[Hoyt]

8. Wonder how much gunners paid him to say that junk?

[Angry Dragon]

18. it is a woman

[dalton99a]

9. Well, it was thoughts and prayers that defeated the Nazis in WWII

[Still In Wisconsin]

10. Well if the Senator ever finds herself at the business end of a gun, I hope the nearest officer

sends her some "thoughts and prayers."

[Kablooie]

12. Why do so many Republicans live in a magical world of fantasy and fairytale?

And then they deride Harry Potter as summoning Satan.

Sheesh.

[jmowreader]

15. Because thoughts and prayers are so much better...

...than taking guns away from people.

[NBachers]

13. "I'm sending them a rabbit's foot, knocking on wood, and keeping my fingers crossed."

[Angry Dragon]

16. What do we need the police for then??

[TlalocW]

17. I think we should consider encouraging people in her district

To send her thoughts and prayers instead of contributing to/working for/voting for her and see how powerful she thinks they are then.

TlalocW

[TlalocW]

19. I've had it out with several people on Thoughts and Prayers being worthless

I recently pissed them off by telling them about a side business I'm going to start where 10% of the proceeds (to start with) will be going to charities. I said that I was naming it, "Thoughts and Prayers, Ltd." so that something real, tangible, and useful could finally be gotten from Thoughts and Prayers.

They didn't like that (and it won't be my actual business name).

TlalocW

[BigmanPigman]

21. I will continue to send donations to Freedom From Religion Foundation

thank you very much. And to my Dem reps for reelection...as well as #ENOUGH.
https://secure.ffrf.org/np/clients/ffrf/survey.jsp?surveyId=6&

Here is info on the events planned for the next two months in the US and internationally including the Walkout #Enough March 14th and March for our Lives rallies March 24th.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10112243

Enough Prayers. It's Time to Vote.
If you are sick and tired of the endless mass shootings that haven been happening in our country, there actually is something you can do about it. The reason that no gun laws change despite literally hundreds of school shootings, is that the NRA is lining the pockets of many of our representatives. If we want to see gun laws change, we must vote them out of office.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/15/us/school-shootings-sandy-hook-parkland.html

If you are repped by one of the GOP Senators or Congresspeople on this list, contact them today to tell them you will vote them out of office if they continue to take campaign donations or support of any kind from the NRA. And in the next election, do just that. You can also contact your reps to demand action against gun violence.
http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/IAE/ni0YAA/t.2f5/f6fgQfzLRRaZOJ3ZpqWnIg/h7/cNnQNjdq5RU-2BioWHJJg1n91pNuPq76-2FWmzQS9hwIfrtkfz94lXGzc-2B-2FkNRgWDuVUPKM5izZalqmeGFVMxEwaIb0UXAFUDj1Q68ZvTnStHcLK-2FcH-2FHH7UoaK9YZ7PiZa4AvN4r7qvhXFskdpKos1JLlPnFW6HMu9aKu3Bf9jibGe3-2Bm3kOUpaYkN7S703peb7ku4-2BBPAF4AMcslaSvpMhO-2BE3CO-2B8ZPEryIDXR90xqYYkWBQHH2xSRV54Vy-2B-2Frr2mx-2BUANvq8MZLOJzmlx9xkCGDg-2FbxvZ6appWhbu351Uf8-3D
http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/IAE/ni0YAA/t.2f5/f6fgQfzLRRaZOJ3ZpqWnIg/h8/nkWWe9SXDg5hULXCIN66G7dmrVfagKkBjWiNM0eIfSarMS7x9sCoSGsvGWk2keneX9-2FWYXrLv3cWmNodexjMPuexdN3Cn-2FG30S3DnrmQ-2BYxwcI5QYqJNLuKjDZCh6XO23uzReDqwddJ9uH4orsXKvNIAt7QebwQjdfMYBQFToKo0R6Fd6ppQV54NQkMwhiLHAZGjWDF-2B7rXj-2BZt3whHFWCOZpm-2BCQDJfwcBWiA-2BhLWy5TxTbBereKgS-2FICM7V093DsIybSn4yXj5hfwgcu4sCJn6Z-2FU7FnF1DaQjGELhG2Q-3D
https://resist.bot/

http://www.30guncontrolactionsyoucantakenow.com/

[KWR65]

22. The only thing that will save a river from human pollution is thoughts and prayers

[truthisfreedom]

23. Let us know how that works out for ya.

So far, nada.

[longship]

24. My thoughts...

That she eats shit!

I pray that she hates every single mouthful but has to keep shoveling it down. Forever.

[Solly Mack]

25. How's that been working for the victims?

Idiot.

[calimary]

26. Oh for Pete's Sake. Well, MY "thoughts and prayers" are for her to be VOTED OUT!!!

So THERE, Ms. Stargel. Howdya like THOSE "thoughts and prayers"?

[BadgerMom]

27. How much has she received from the Russia-backed NRA?

[Beartracks]

28. Thoughts and prayers are safe, easy, cheap, and require no real work...

... follow-through, or commitment. Like bumper stickers, yellow ribbons, and flag pins.

Just a way to say you're doing something while doing nothing.

=====

[pazzyanne]

29. Her job is to fix problems,

not just send thoughts and prayers. How can she face herself in the mirror each morning when our kids are living in terror?

[PSPS]

30. It works!!!11!!

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. Ha ha

[True Blue American]

31. That Congress Person made a mockery out of

What she calls Religion..

If she claims Religion she waould also know that Prayers with Out works is empty. They use Religion as a bludgeon.

Pathetic that people like her exist.

[meadowlander]

33. Columbine was 19 years ago. Sandy Hook was 6 years ago.

There have been more than 65+ mass shootings since Columbine and 30+ since Sandy Hook.

If "thoughts and prayers" worked then why are hundreds of kids dead?

[weissmam]

34. though and prayers

do nothing -pretty simple

[Vinca]

35. I send thoughts and prayers that she loses her next election.

[bucolic_frolic]

36. Brainless

Not only delusional thinking, but not working very well

[ProfessorGAC]

37. Hey, Kelli. All Prayers Are Answered

The answer is always no.

[logosoco]

38. When it is someone's JOB to create laws, if they say "prayer"

is the only solution (or even if they say "prayer" in most contexts), they should automatically lose that job and it can go to the next person.

[lastlib]

39. Senator, you're supposed to READ the Bible--not SMOKE it!

the synapses are not firing properly in this one.

[Maxheader]

40. If thoughts and prayers against evil

worked..there would be no gop...

[TNNurse]

41. I am a cancer survivor, I have been the recipient of thoughts and prayers.

They do help, they comfort you. However, surgery, chemo and radiation cured my cancer, I do not think most of those idiots offering thoughts and prayers about guns would turn down the options that actually help them survive something like cancer.

[malthaussen]

42. What will stop the evil in our legislators? n/t