Community Corner

NRA Prepared to "Make Meaningful Contribution" to Preventing Violence

The National Rifle Association of America released a brief statement Tuesday offering support to victims of the Sandy Hook School shooting and said they would release more Friday.

The National Rifle Association of America has remained quiet despite talks of stronger gun control in the United States following a shooting at Sandy Hook that claimed the lives of 27 people including 20 children, but on Tuesday the organization released a brief statement and said they are prepared to make "meaningful contributions" to prevent this level of violence from happening again.

In a press release Tuesday, the association said they have remained quiet for respect to the victims, but released the following statement:

"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.

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.

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

The shooting is among the worst in U.S. History and has sparked debate over the need for potential changes in gun control laws.

The primary weapon used by Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old police said was responsible for the shooting, was a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle. The gun used is a semi-automatic, M4 carbine that closely resembles an AR-15, according to police, and uses magazines with 26 rounds each.

The gun is considered an assault weapon. However, the rifle does not fall into the list of outlawed weapons included in the U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, due in large part to the fact that it is not fully automatic. Forms of the gun are legal to own in all 50 states.

Lanza also had several handguns at the time of the incident, turning one on himself, police said.

The NRA has said it would release a more detailed statement during a press conference on Friday afternoon, but it is unknown if the organization would address gun rights at that time.

"The NRA is planning to hold a major news conference in the Washington D.C. area on Friday, December 21," the organization said in its press release. "Details will be released to the media at the appropriate time."

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