'We believe in prayer': Top TN official boldly defends prayers after massacre at Christian school

The director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation boldly defended prayer on Monday as an appropriate response to atrocities.

After three children and three staff members were brutally gunned down by a transgender perpetrator at the Covenant School in Nashville, the trite discourse about prayer not being sufficient was reinserted into the national media narrative.

But at a press conference, TBI Director David Rausch affirmed people who believe prayer is necessary in the wake of the massacre.

"Again I want to echo what chief has said in reference to the great support and the great teamwork that has been taking place here, as well as sending our heartfelt prayers to the families, to this community of these victims," Rausch said at a press conference.

"Now, I know there’ll be people who want to criticize us for prayers. But that’s the way we do that in the South, right? We believe in prayer and we believe in the power of prayer. And so, our prayers go out to these families," he continued.

To demonstrate empathy for victims of atrocities — such as mass shootings — people often offer their "thoughts and prayers." It's a way to show solidarity with those impacted by the tragedy despite having no personal connection to it.

But "thoughts and prayers" do nothing to prevent gun-violence crimes, argue gun control advocates. Mocking people who offer their prayers, in fact, has become commonplace in recent years. One progressive radio host, for instance, went viral on Monday after he observed that prayers did not prevent the tragedy in Nashville.

Anything else?

Rausch explained at the press conference that TBI investigators were assisting local law enforcement with the officer-involved portions of the incident. The agency will also provide investigative oversight, he said.

Bodycam footage showed how, within a matter of minutes, police officers entered the school, located the perpetrator, and ended the massacre by shooting the shooter dead.

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