First Statement From NRA Since Newtown Massacre Offers No Insight

The National Rifle Association released a brief message Tuesday, marking the NRA's first official statement since a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., left 20 children, six adults and the 20-year-old shooter, Adam Lanza, dead.

The nation has been waiting since Friday for the NRA, the leading gun rights advocacy group, to speak out about the shooting, and what it means to the organization, as well as its pro-gun positions.

But the five-sentence missive, which the NRA touted as an "important message," failed to provide answers to key questions surrounding the organization's response to the massacre and what can be done to prevent such future incidents.

The statement also took the step of allowing the group to stall for another three days until Friday, aka 12/21/12, a day when the world's attention will be focused on the "doomsday" prophecies some have made as Dec. 12, 2012, is the day the Mayan calendar turns over.

Here is the NRA's full statement, issued Tuesday to the media and posted on its home page:

"The National Rifle Association of America is made up of 4 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.

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

"The NRA is planning to hold a major news conference in the Washington, DC area on Friday, Dec. 21.

Details will be released to the media at the appropriate time."

The statement came on the heels of Tuesday reports that the NRA's Facebook page has apparently been shuttered and its Twitter account has been silent since the Newtown shooting spree.

The statement's assertion that the NRA should wait further before commenting on the shooting is contrary to the calls made by President Barack Obama, who has begun to discuss possible options for stopping such violence.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney spoke Tuesday of Obama's "support for reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, his support for closing the so-called gun-show loophole."

And even Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a lifelong member of the NRA, has expressed interest in tightening gun laws in the wake of the Newtown massacre, particularly by declaring his support for the move by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to reinstate the assault weapons ban.

Manchin said "everything needs to be on the table" when the gun control debate begins in full force in the next Congress, according to the Huffington Post.