The National Rifle Association has broken its silence over the Sandy Hook school massacre, saying its members were "shocked and saddened" by the murders.
After a self-imposed media blackout, the powerful gun rights organisation made its first public statement on Friday's gun rampage by 20-year-old Adam Lanza.
He killed 20 pupils, aged six and seven, as well as six female members of staff after opening fire at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Lanza earlier shot dead his mother Nancy at the home they shared, and then killed himself at the school as police closed in.
The NRA said its members were "shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders".
Protesters demonstrated outside the NRA's headquarters in Washington DC The group also said it wanted to give families time to mourn before making its first public statement.
It pledged "to help to make sure this never happens again" and has scheduled a news conference for Friday.
The massacre has re-ignited the debate over gun control in the US, with some calling for a clampdown on firearms.
President Barack Obama backs a new bill to reintroduce a ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Mr Obama is "actively supportive" of an attempt by Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein to write the bill early next year.
Adam Lanza killed his mother before shooting dead 20 children and six staff The president has also telephoned pro-gun senator Joe Manchin, who has shifted his position on firearms laws since Friday's carnage in Connecticut.
Mr Manchin, along with fellow democrat Mark Warner, who have so-called "A" ratings from the NRA, said the Newtown massacre has convinced them the time for reform has come.
West Virginia's Senator Manchin told MSNBC it was time to "move beyond rhetoric" on gun control. He said: "I don't know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle. It's common sense."
Senator Warner said "the status quo isn't acceptable" and in a later interview called for "rational gun control".
On Monday, 75 activists demonstrated outside the NRA's headquarters in Washington DC. They chanted: "Shame on the NRA," and demanded the organisation drop its hardline stance and make way for new gun control laws.
"More than anyone else, the NRA is responsible for the more than 12,000 people murdered by guns every year in this country," said Josh Nelson, the campaign manager for the progressive Credo Action group that organised the protest.
"We call on the NRA's lobbyists to stand down and allow Congress to pass common-sense gun laws."
:: Watch USA: The Gun Debate on Sky News on Wednesday at 8.30pm.
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