We lament every mass shooting; we mourn the killing of school children. Rarely a week goes by when we do not hear of another act of violence, often targeting gathering places for minority groups: a mosque, a synagogue, a gay nightclub. After each event, our politicians and clergy are quick to express their grief, to decry violence, to urge us not to give in to hate. While we are asked to pray for the families of the victims, we are also told that “thoughts and prayers” are not sufficient.