"F*** your thoughts and prayers," were the strange words with which Michigan Democratic Rep. Ranjeev Puri began his statement in response to the recent Michigan State University shooting. His intention, he assured, was to express his "deepest condolences" to the victims and families affected:
Fuck your thoughts and prayers. I want to extend my deepest condolences to the Michigan State University community, who are experiencing unimaginable trauma and grief after a shooter opened fire at multiple locations across Michigan State's campus.
In an official statement, the Democrat said that "thoughts and prayers without action and change are meaningless," and used the statement of condolences to express his support for gun control reform, which is "common sense" in his opinion. He also stated that his team will "work tirelessly" to get gun control measures approved "immediately":
Thoughts and prayers without action and change are meaningless. Our office will continue to work tirelessly to pass common sense gun reform immediately. We will not stop until our students can attend school without fear, our communities can attend places of worship in peace and our society is safe from senseless gun violence.
Puri noted, in his view, that "the United States is the only country" where such shootings are taking place and where there is "never-ending cycle" of gun violence:
What happened in East Lansing is unfortunately far too common. Going to school in America, whether it's pre-school or college, means risking your life every day to the threat of a mass shooting. Yet all we have offered up are empty solutions - traumatizing active shooter drills and bulletproof backpacks.
We do not need to live like this. The United States is the only country where this happens. Where mass shootings have left us desensitized, waking up each day to a seemingly never-ending horrific cycle of gun violence.
Three dead and five wounded in the shooting
The shooting at two locations on the Michigan State University campus left three dead, all students, and five others wounded. The suspect, a 43-year-old black man identified as Anthony McRae, also took his own life. He was found dead off campus from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and, according to police, had no apparent connection to the university.
The shooting occurred after 8 p.m. inside Berkey Hall, home of the faculty of Social Sciences, where two people were killed. Shortly thereafter, just after 9 p.m., another shooting was reported at the MSU student center, located next door to the previous one. One person died there, said MSU Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman. The victims were transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. The five injured are in critical condition and some have life-threatening injuries.
"You are disgusting. Have some respect for ... the families who have lost loved ones"
Puri's opinion was criticized on social media by some families who have lost loved ones in mass shootings. Ryan Petty, whose daughter Alaina was killed in 2018 in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., called the representative "disgusting" and asked for "respect for ... the families who have lost loved ones."
You are disgusting. Have some respect for your office and to the families who have lost loved ones.
You are disgusting. Have some respect for your office and to the families who have lost loved ones.
— Ryan Petty (@rpetty) February 14, 2023
