Are "Thoughts and Prayers" Just Idle Lamentations Without a Clear Path to Action?

Conversation: Are "Thoughts and Prayers" Just Idle Lamentations Without a Clear Path to Action? It sometime feels as if America's triple threat of fear, racism, and guns has lulled some of us into idle lamentations that preclude any meaningful action toward gun reform. According to the New York Times, other countries have had a mass shootings and subsequently changed their gun laws. Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, all with a culture of gun ownership, tightened restrictions anyway. Their violence statistics now diverge sharply from those of the U.S. How many more shootings, thoughts, and prayers will it take for America to finally reach its own inflection point and bend the arc towards gun reform? "Inaction is not an option." Senator Cory BookerJoin us as we delve into 3 main topics: (1) The Value of Thoughts and Prayers, (2) A Narrative Inquiry Into the Experience of Being a Victim of Gun Violence, and (3) Research - Causes/Impact (Trauma) Don t let anyone tell you that these bad things happen and then everyone goes back to 'normal.' You don t have to be everyone. Stay with the grief. Stay with the anger. Stay troubled by it all. Stay open-hearted to those who grieve. Stay tuned to those working for change. Morgan Harper Nichols, artist