Texas Republican Touts God, Prayer in Rant Against Gun Control

Texas Republican congressman Matt Schaefer railed against Americans calling for lawmakers to "do something" about mass shootings, arguing via Twitter Saturday that God and prayer are more effective than gun control regulations.

Schaefer, who represents Texas' 6th congressional district, said "NO" to any form of gun restrictions in a Twitter thread in which he touted the "God-given, constitutionally protected" Second Amendment rights of fellow Texans and Americans. Schaefer's series of Saturday tweetsproclaiming he will never back any form of weapons bans or background checks came just hours after a shooting left 5 dead in west Texas. Schaefer touted "praying for victims" and downplayed the "evil acts of a handful of people."

"'Do something!' is the statement we keep hearing. As an elected official with a vote in Austin, let me tell you what I am NOT going to do," Schaefer, who was first elected in 2012, tweeted Saturday evening.

"I am NOT going to use the evil acts of a handful of people to diminish the God-given rights of my fellow Texans. Period. None of these so-called gun-control solutions will work to stop a person with evil intent," he continued. Schaefer rejected "red flag pre-crime" law proposals made by President Donald Trump and lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle over the past month.