Two-time Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee says "the lack of thoughts and prayers" is the "single biggest factor" behind mass shootings.
Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas, made the suggestion on Tuesday in a blog post following the two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio on Sunday.
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While he began by noting the events as tragedies, Huckabee went on to slam people denouncing politicians for sending their "thoughts and prayers" after deadly incidents.
Criticism at such messages have become frequent after mass shootings in the United States, with activists saying politicians are simply expressing empty words without any gun control action to back them up.
After Sunday's shootings, several prominent Democrats called on Republicans to support greater gun control and not rely on empty gestures.
"We cannot continue to confront gun violence with empty words," said Montana Governor and current Democrat candidate for US President Steve Bullock. Julian Castro, another candidate, said "thoughts and prayers aren't enough".
But Huckabee, the father of former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, believes it is actually a lack of thoughts and prayers which is the issue.
"Amid all the finger-pointing and blame-laying and repulsive attempts to turn these tragedies to political advantage before the bodies are even cold, I would posit that the lack of thought and prayers is probably the single biggest factor in what is behind them."
He goes on to criticise politicians for saying US President Donald Trump's rhetoric incited violence and racism.
More than 30 people were killed across the two shooting. Authorities are referring to the shooting in an El Paso Walmart as domestic terrorism and have said it was racially motivated. The white man alleged to have committed the shooting earlier released a manifesto with racist and anti-immigrant sentiments.
Trump has put the blame on video games, while Candice Keller, a Republican state representative from Ohio, said drag queens, Barack Obama, and homosexuals were responsible.
Newshub.
