Thoughts and prayers versus gun control

Two mass shootings within days of each other — in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. They join a tragic list of similar violence occurring with disturbing regularity. And each time, we hear people offering their "thoughts and prayers."

But is it enough? Or is it even a “cruel joke” to say it, as an op-ed in The Washington Postclaimed? Following the latest mass shooting, the op-ed said Republicans’ "reflexive response to endless massacres has become a cruel joke, as effective as a Hallmark sympathy card." So is talking gun control a more apt response?

Author and former Obama faith advisor Michael Wear said, "The problem isn't that Republicans are issuing their thoughts and prayers," it's "that they're voting against gun control, so why don't we talk about that rather than the sort of culture war message about thoughts and prayers?"

But Frank Turek of CrossExamined.org said the problem goes much deeper than guns.
"In our country, we've always had guns.  But in recent years, in recent decades we've had a lot more of these shootings it seems,” he said. “So, what's changed?"