National Rifle Association Breaks Its Silence on Newtown

Families prepare to bury six more mass shooting victims

The National Rifle Association broke its silence on Tuesday, four days after a mass shooting in Connecticut killed 20 elementary schoolchildren and six adults. The usually vocal gun rights lobbying group released a brief statement on the shooting.

“The National Rifle Association of America is 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,” reads the statement posted to its website. “The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.”

The group said it would hold a major press conference in the nation’s capitol on Friday, but offered no other details.

The statement comes as families of the victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School last week prepare to bury six more victims. The family of Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung plans to hold a public wake on Wednesday afternoon, but her burial will be private. Sandy Hook teacher Victoria Soto, whose family gave a public wake on Tuesday, will be buried on Wednesday. Services were also scheduled for 6-year-olds Charlotte Bacon and Caroline Previdi, and 7-year-olds Daniel Barden and Chase Kowalski.

Last Friday, police officials say 20-year-old Adam Lanza forced his way into Sandy Hook Elementary school and killed 6- and 7-year-olds and school staff, before turning the gun on himself. (Reuters + New York Times)

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