--- description: Democrats and gun control advocates shut down the immediate outpouring of "thoughts and prayers" for victims of the Texas church shooting title: 'Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough.' Democrats Demand Action After Texas Shooting image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blted64d56f5a88a5ea/6988e4b797cdff21256b322f/elizabeth-warren-thoughts-prayers-texas-shooting.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Texas](/tag/texas/) ## Texas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 'Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough.' Gun Control Advocates Demand Action After Texas Shooting  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 6, 2017 5:04 PM CUT  Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks at a rally to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and its replacement on Capitol Hill on June 21, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks at a rally to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and its replacement on Capitol Hill on June 21, 2017 in Washington, D.C.Astrid Riecken/Getty Images  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 6, 2017 5:04 PM CUT Democratic leaders and gun control advocates shut down the immediate and familiar outpouring of “thoughts and prayers” for [the victims](http://time.com/5010967/texas-church-shooting-victims "undefined") of the [South Texas church shooting](http://time.com/5010772/texas-sutherland-springs-church-shooting/ "undefined") on Sunday, calling for stronger gun laws. “How many kids must die of gun violence on playgrounds & streets every day with no attention at all before we wake up to what’s happening?” Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren said on Twitter. “Thoughts & prayers are not enough, GOP. We must end this violence. We must stop these tragedies. People are dying while you wait.” At least 26 people were killed inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a [gunman opened fire](http://time.com/5011322/ruger-ar-556-rifle-texas-church-shooting/?xid=homepage "undefined") on Sunday. This has become the [deadliest year](http://time.com/5010973/sutherland-springs-texas-mass-shootings-history/ "undefined") for mass shootings in modern U.S. history. > [](https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/927315837194784769) Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, an advocacy group founded in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, called on lawmakers to take action. “If thoughts and prayers alone prevented gun violence, we wouldn’t be shot in places of worship. God calls on us to ACT,” she said on Twitter. > [](https://twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/927279498034274304) Several people reacted to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan’s call for prayers. “Reports out of Texas are devastating. The people of Sutherland Springs need our prayers right now,” Ryan said on Sunday. > [](https://twitter.com/SpeakerRyan/status/927269491045695488) “Let’s also pray that you find the courage to do your job,” Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton responded. > [](https://twitter.com/sethmoulton/status/927380907375374336) Here’s how others reacted: > [](https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/927281364596088832) > [](https://twitter.com/repjohnlewis/status/927341991679156225) > [](https://twitter.com/CoryBooker/status/927343304076943370) > [](https://twitter.com/RepJayapal/status/927536813207703552) > [](https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/927282810171379713) > [](https://twitter.com/MiaFarrow/status/927276633760858112) > [](https://twitter.com/rickygervais/status/927304926266646528) > [](https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/927417212578795521) > [](https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/927272458696183808) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5011550/texas-church-shooting-thoughts-prayers-gun-control/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5011550/texas-church-shooting-thoughts-prayers-gun-control/"},"headline":"'Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough.' 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