Katherine Sidnell
Trigger warning: Contains description of gun violence
The US Senate’s chaplain has admitted he’s fed up of ‘thoughts and prayers’, after the latest school shooting.
Barry Black made the comment as he addressed the house following the deadly attack in Nashville, which left six people dead – including three children.
Having served in his role for over 20 years, Black urged lawmakers to change their policy on assault rifles in the US.
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The horrific attack took place on Monday morning around 10am, when 28-year-old Audrey E Hale entered a private Christian elementary school in Nashville.
They fired on the school doors to gain entrance and were filmed walking through the building in camouflage trousers, a red baseball cap, and a black vest as they searched the school.
While the fire alarm had already alerted staff, the shooter claimed six lives in a targeted attack against their former school.
Among the victims were substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, the school’s janitor Mike Hill, 61, and the head teacher Katherine Koonce, 60.
Three children were also killed, including: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney – who were all aged nine.
As the nation mourns another school shooting, Barry Black called for reform.
On Tuesday morning as the Senate reopened, the chaplain used his morning prayer to address politicians in a pointed speech.
He told them: “Lord, when babies die at a church school, it is time for us to move beyond thoughts and prayers.
“Remind our lawmakers of the words of the British statesman Edmund Burke: ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.’
"Lord, deliver our senators from the paralysis of analysis that waits for the miraculous.”
Although the religious figure rarely speaks about politics, it’s not the first time Black has used his opening prayer to tackle difficult issues.
During the 2013 government shutdown, he gave a lengthy speech and heavily criticised politicians for the disruption.
He then asked God to ‘save us from the madness’ and ‘deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable’.
While his words may go largely unheard, some politicians are still trying to push for stricter gun laws in the US.
Last year, Congress passed a law that limited the purchase of guns, but it was met with intense backlash from many Republican representatives.