The National Rifle Association has expressed its “deepest sympathies” for the victims and relatives in the two mass shootings that claimed 31 lives and left dozens wounded.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims of these tragedies, as well as the entire communities of El Paso and Dayton,” NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said in a statement posted on Twitter on Sunday.
“On behalf of our millions of members, we salute the courage of the first responders and others offering their services during this time,” he added.
“The NRA is committed to the safe and lawful use of firearms by those exercising their Second Amendment freedoms. We will not participate in the politicizing of these tragedies but, as always, we will work in good faith to pursue real solutions that protect us all from people who commit these horrific acts.”
On Saturday, a shooter killed 22 people and wounded more than two dozen others at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. Hours later, a gunman killed nine people and injured at least 27 others in Dayton, Ohio.
Both attackers used assault-style rifles.
Democratic presidential candidates have expressed outrage that mass shootings have become common across the US and blamed the NRA, the nation’s most powerful gun-rights lobby, and its congressional allies.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday blasted Republican Senate leadership for being “more concerned about pleasing the NRA than listening to the vast majority of the American people” and said that President Trump has a responsibility to support common-sense gun safety legislation.
In February, the House passed a sweeping gun control bill with bipartisan support that required universal background checks, but the Republican-controlled Senate has yet to consider it.
The president on Monday called on lawmakers to pass legislation requiring strong background checks for firearms purchases.
“Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform,” he said in a tweet.
