'F*** Your Thoughts And Prayers,' Canton Rep. Calls For More Action

MICHIGAN — A Michigan state lawmaker representing Canton Township released a scathing statement after the deadly Michigan State University shooting that left three students dead and wounded five others.

"F*** your thoughts and prayers," Ranjeev Puri, the Democratic Majority Whip in the Michigan House of Representatives said.

While offering his condolences to the Spartan community and everyone affected by the shooting, Puri said lawmakers must do more to address the "seemingly never-ending horrific cycle of gun violence."

"What happened in East Lansing is unfortunately far too common. Going to school in America, whether it’s pre-school or college, means risking your life every day to the threat of a mass shooting," he said. "Yet all we have offered up are empty solutions—traumatizing active shooter drills and bulletproof backpacks."

Puri also went on to say he believes Americans have grown "desensitized" to gun violence because mass shootings have so often in the U.S.

"We are not even two full months into 2023, and this marks the 67th mass shooting of the year, along with over 2,215 mass shooting gun deaths," he said. "Thoughts and prayers without action and change are meaningless."

Puri finished his letter promising to do more in tackling gun violence.

"We will not stop until our students can attend school without fear, our communities can attend places of worship in peace, and our society is safe from senseless gun violence," he said.

Three students from metro Detroit were killed and five other students were critically wounded after police said 43-year-old Anthony McRae opened fire inside two buildings on the campus.

The three students killed in the attack were identified as Brian Fraser, 20, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, Alexandria Verner, 20, a junior from Clawson and Arielle Anderson, 19, a junior, from Gross Pointe.

A few hours later, police said they found McRae dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police have not determined a motive for the shooting.