After several days of silence following the Newtown school massacre by a heavily armed shooter, the National Rifle Association of America on Tuesday issued a statement.

“The NRA 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,” the statement said.

“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 said.

The large association, a powerful lobby for the right of Americans to own arms, said: “The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.”

The NRA will hold “a major” news conference on Friday in the Washington, D.C., area.