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Politicized Prayer: How Thoughts And Prayers Hinder Gun Legislation, Hope Cody
Politicized Prayer: How Thoughts And Prayers Hinder Gun Legislation, Hope Cody
Honors Theses
Thoughts and prayers are a strategic rhetorical tool, rather than a religious sentiment, when it comes to gun reform in the US. I confirm my three hypotheses: that the rhetorical use of thoughts and prayers do rise sharply after a mass shooting, that the use is centered in the gun rights coalition, and the use of thoughts and prayers is intentional. This establishes a direct link between the sending of thoughts and prayers and the lack of measurable gun reform laws in the United States.