CNN’s Don Lemon wants Americans to know that thoughts and prayers didn’t prevent the mass shooting, because the victims “were already praying.”

CNN’s @donlemon: Thoughts and prayers are important, but our leaders need to take action https://t.co/BNBvSaMwMD https://t.co/JplwGUvInr — CNN (@CNN) November 7, 2017

“Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers,” Lemon said. “Don’t get me wrong. Prayers are important. They really are.”

The CNN host then offered the prerequisite disclaimer that “this is not about religion.”

“So spare me the anti-religion tweets,” Lemon said. “You can keep them. I won’t even read them. I don’t care.”

“These God-fearing Christians were in church. They were already praying,” he went on to say. “Thoughts and prayers did not stop an oversight from the justice system which enabled a guy who attacked his stepson and assaulted his wife from getting a gun.”

The oversight was actually made by the Air Force.

“Thoughts and prayers didn’t stop a troubled person from buying assault grade weapons that took the lives of 26 people in an instant,” Lemon continued, before trying to convince viewers that he “a firm believer in the Second Amendment.”

He then questioned “how many guns and of what caliber does one person need?”

Of course, Lemon does endorse prayer when those prayers are in support of gun control.

“So tonight, I hope you will join me in praying that our leaders will actually do something of substance and action this time that precludes another thoughts and prayers moment,” he concluded.