NRA breaks its silence over Sandy Hook mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut

GlobalPost

The National Rifle Association broke its silence Tuesday over the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., vowing to make “meaningful contributions” to ensure such an event never happens again.

In a statement, the NRA said its organization was “made up of four million moms and dads, sons and daughters – and we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders in Newtown.”

Explaining their days of silence since the shooting, the NRA wrote, "Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting.”

The statement added: "The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."

CNN reported that the NRA planned to hold a “major news conference” in Washington, DC on Friday.

The NRA has been heavily criticized for staying silent after a lone gunman on Friday shot dead 27 people before killing himself in one of the worst mass shootings in US history.

The victims included 20 children who were slain in their classrooms at Sandy Hook Elementary School, six educators, shooter Adam Lanza and his mother, Nancy, whom he killed before going to the school.

The tragic event has revived calls for tougher gun control laws.

The White House said on Tuesday that Obama "strongly" supported a renewal of the assault weapons ban and would back new gun legislation, according to Politico.

[View the story "NRA vows to make 'meaningful contributions'" on Storify]

More from GlobalPost: Full coverage of the Sandy Hook shooting

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