Vice President Vance is criticizing anyone who would mock the idea of offering thoughts and prayers after a school shooting following the killings of two children at a Catholic school Wednesday in Minneapolis.

“It is shocking to me that so many left wing politicians attack the idea of prayer in response to a tragedy,” Vance wrote in a post on the social platform X.

“Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action. We pray because our hearts are broken and we believe that God is listening,” he wrote.

Democratic politicians in particular have expressed frustration with politicians and others offering their thoughts and prayers after shooting tragedies, while little action is taken on gun control.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday said: “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”

The two children killed were praying during a mass when a shooter started firing at them through a window in the church. Fourteen other children were injured.

Police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Robin Westman, from suburban Minneapolis. Police said the shooter barricaded the church door during the shooting, then died by suicide by gunshot. The suspect was dressed in black and carrying a rifle, pistol and shotgun, officials said.

The children killed in the attack were 8 and 10 years old. At least four children remain in critical condition, according to the chief of emergency medicine at one of the three hospitals treating victims. The remaining victims are expected to survive, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in a Wednesday afternoon update.