'We've more guns than people': Minneapolis mayor slams 'thoughts and prayers' after school shooting

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey didn’t mince any words after Wednesday’s bloodbath at a Catholic school mass.

“These kids were literally praying,” Frey told reporters, shaking his head after a gunman stormed Annunciation Church, killing two children and injuring 17 more.

The mayor blasted the usual “thoughts and prayers” routine after every massacre. “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” said Frey, who has long pushed for basic gun control measures like universal background checks and red-flag laws.

“These are kids that should be learning with their friends,” he went on. “They should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace, without the fear or risk of violence, and their parents should have the same kind of assurance. These are the sort of basic assurances every family should have every step of the day, regardless of where they are in our country.”

Trump, JD Vance, and Kristi Noem chime in after Catholic school shooting

A number of administration officials rolled out the usual public prayers.

“Please join me in praying for everyone involved,” wrote President Donald Trump.

“Join all of us in praying for the victims!” Vice President JD Vance said on social media.

The VP has been here before. On the campaign trail last year, he shrugged off school shootings as a grim but inevitable part of life in America.

“I don’t like that this is a fact of life,” Vance said in September. “But if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets. And we have got to bolster security at our schools. We’ve got to bolster security, so if a psycho wants to walk through the front door and kill a bunch of children, they’re not able.”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also joined the chorus. “I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families,” she wrote.

Democrats call for more than prayers

Frey doubled down about America’s gun problem at a later press conference.

“I think the impetus has to be on all of us as leaders to do a whole lot more, to recognize that we’ve got more guns in this country than we have people,” he said. “And it’s on all of us to recognize the truth and the reality that we can’t just say that this shouldn’t happen again and then allow it to happen again and again.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz backed him up. “I ask the rest of folks around the country who are watching, keep us in your thoughts and prayers, but also keep us in the thoughts for action, keep us in the ideas that we can work together,” Walz said.

“When will enough be enough?” asked former Rep Gabby Giffords, who survived a gunshot to the head in a 2011 mass shooting.

“No one should have to fear for their lives when attending religious services,” her statement added. “This doesn’t have to be the reality for anyone. There are solutions that legislators should act on now to prevent another tragic day like today.”

Minnesota’s gun laws under scrutiny

Gun safety advocates were quick to point out Minnesota’s middling record. Everytown for Gun Safety currently ranks the state 14th nationwide for gun law strength.

But Minnesota still doesn’t ban the sale of assault weapons, nor does it regulate ghost guns.

Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court struck down a state law barring people under 21 from getting a permit to carry a handgun.