Several Dead in Texan Shooting ... lots of thoughts and prayers to follow

ETA: The morning brought news of more carnage. Another shooting with at least ten dead (this time the shooter too) and over that many injured.

Employees at the nearby Hooters and Red Lobster told CNN they were safe and saw a lot of police, helicopters and people running around outside.

There is just something so modern day U.S.A. about some of the details of the latest mass shooting.  We also have multiple murders via shootings related to Walmart.  This has special force in these times:

A family reunification center has been set up at MacArthur Elementary School for families who might have been separated, Gomez said.

In El Paso, Texas.  While we hear more talk of "thoughts and prayers" and others who are saying a form of "fuck that," I think of my comments regarding prayer a few months back.  A piece:

The "thoughts and prayers" line has a stale nature to it but works best if done in a honest and forceful way.  Actually taking the time to think about things, including people, can matter. Once you think about someone, it is harder to avoid them and their interests. It's quite possible, obviously, but it is harder. We try not to think about certain things for that very reason. Thoughts can result in actions. Same with "prayers" -- it "earnest request" and so forth is taken seriously.  Doing so to a deity has special implications, obviously, but again that is not the only way prayer can work.

Empathy is important but real empathy is harder and includes action here. I have no special answers there.  I'm about to read about a fictional shooting. But, someone brought up the latest real ones.  One thing to do: support credible leadership not of the unfit hateful bigot variety. So one party is out.