NRA breaks silence after shootings, may now offer ‘meaningful contributions’

Halimah Abdullah, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 11:25 AM EST, Thu December 20, 2012
Candles burn next to a lighted tree at a makeshift shrine in Newtown, Connecticut, commemorating the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
Candles burn next to a lighted tree at a makeshift shrine in Newtown, Connecticut, commemorating the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
Erica Simmons rings the campus bell at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, during a nationwide commemoration December 21, marking a week since the Newtown, Connecticut, mass shooting. Church bells rang out across the country at 9:30 ET Friday to remember those who died in the gun rampage.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
Erica Simmons rings the campus bell at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, during a nationwide commemoration December 21, marking a week since the Newtown, Connecticut, mass shooting. Church bells rang out across the country at 9:30 ET Friday to remember those who died in the gun rampage.
ERIK S. LESSER/epa/LANDOV
A woman pauses at a streetside memorial during a moment of silence on December 21 in Newtown.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
A woman pauses at a streetside memorial during a moment of silence on December 21 in Newtown.
John Moore/Getty Images
Connecticut State Police block the road to Sandy Hook Elementary School during a moment of silence on December 21. A week ago, a gunman forced his way into the school and shot and killed 26 people, including 20 children.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
Connecticut State Police block the road to Sandy Hook Elementary School during a moment of silence on December 21. A week ago, a gunman forced his way into the school and shot and killed 26 people, including 20 children.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
A woman bows her head in Newtown's Sandy Hook village on December 21.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
A woman bows her head in Newtown's Sandy Hook village on December 21.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
People observe a moment of silence for the school shooting victims at the Blue Colony Diner in Newtown on December 21.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
People observe a moment of silence for the school shooting victims at the Blue Colony Diner in Newtown on December 21.
ERIC THAYER/REUTERS/LANDOV
Children in Newtown, excluding Sandy Hook Elementary, return to classes on Tuesday, December 18, four days after the shooting at the elementary school.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
Children in Newtown, excluding Sandy Hook Elementary, return to classes on Tuesday, December 18, four days after the shooting at the elementary school.
John Moore/Getty Images
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, holds a news conference with the Brady Campaign to discuss gun violence. In attendance with the Brady Campaign were several survivors of gun violence and family members of victims of gun violence.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, holds a news conference with the Brady Campaign to discuss gun violence. In attendance with the Brady Campaign were several survivors of gun violence and family members of victims of gun violence.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Members of the human rights group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption light candles showing the names of those killed during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, during a prayer vigil in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines on December 18.
Reaction to Newtown school killings —