BARRY BLACK: “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.”

SHANNON LONGWORTH: WITH THOSE WORDS, SENATE CHAPLAIN BARRY BLACK USED HIS PRAYER TIME TO ADDRESS THE CHAMBER AND OPEN THE SESSION. A RETIRED NAVY REAR ADMIRAL…BLACK CURRENTLY SERVES AS A SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR TO SENATORS AND STAFF–A POSITION THAT’S “NONPARTISAN,” “NONPOLITICAL,” AND “NONSECTARIAN.”

BUT, ON TUESDAY, HIS OPENING PRAYER WAS MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD THAN USUAL, FOLLOWING A SCHOOL SHOOTING IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, WHICH LEFT 6 PEOPLE DEAD–INCLUDING 3 CHILDREN.

THIS MASS SHOOTING IS UNIQUELY INTERTWINED WITH RELIGION, AS IT TOOK PLACE AT A PRIVATE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY HAS CONDEMNED THE ACT AS A HATE CRIME, CALLING FOR A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

JOSH HAWLEY: “THIS MURDEROUS RAMPAGE, THIS TAKING OF INNOCENT LIFE WAS A HORRIFIC CRIME, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT WAS A HATE CRIME. A CRIME THAT, ACCORDING TO NASHVILLE POLICE, SPECIFICALLY TARGETED–THAT’S THEIR WORD–TARGETED THE MEMBERS OF THIS CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, THE MEMBERS OF THIS RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, ITS STUDENTS, ITS EDUCATORS, ITS EMPLOYEES.”

LONGWORTH: WHILE POLICE SAY THE ATTACK SEEMED TO BE TARGETED, THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED THE SHOOTER’S MOTIVATION YET. POLICE CHIEF JOHN DRAKE SAYS INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE SHOOTER MAY HAVE HELD SOME RESENTMENT FOR HAVING TO ATTEND THE COVENANT SCHOOL.

THE SHOOTER, AUDREY HALE, WAS 28 YEARS OLD AND IDENTIFIED AS TRANSGENDER.

THE SENATE CHAPLAIN’S REMARKS ARE CONSIDERED A MEDIA MISS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN UNDERREPORTED BY RIGHT-LEANING OUTLETS. AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, WE WORK TO BRING YOU A VARIETY OF STORIES.