President of the NRA at today's conference (Washington Post)

Today, the president of the National Rifle Association of America, Wayne LaPierre, made his organization's highly-anticipated statement regarding the shooting at Newtown, Connecticut. Anyone who was hoping for anything less than usual b.s. about how the school system needs more guns should probably stop reading right here. Also, the NRA wants us to note, that it is our culture's glorification of Splatterdays (what?), Mortal Kombat and Natural Born Killers--specifically--that causes mass shootings, not military-style assault weapons that we can buy online.

From Mr. LaPierre's statement:

And here’s another dirty little truth that the media try their best to conceal. There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and stows violence against its own people. Through vicious, violent video games with names like “Bullet Storm,” “Grand Theft Auto,” “Mortal Combat,” and “Splatterhouse.”

And here’s one, it’s called “Kindergarten Killers.” It’s been online for 10 years. How come my research staff can find it, and all of yours couldn’t? Or didn’t want anyone to know you had found it? Add another hurricane, add another natural disaster. I mean we have blood-soaked films out there, like “American Psycho,” “Natural Born Killers.” They’re aired like propaganda loops on Splatterdays and every single day.

That would be a very good point, Mr. LaPierre, and if you were anyone other than the guy telling us that everyone needs a semiautomatic machine gun with 20 magazines, we might listen. Unfortunately, Kindergarten Killers has not prompted anyone to go on a rampage, since, as you say, no one has ever seen that film outside of your office. Also, Patrick Batemen didn't really use guns, and Natural Born Killers came out 18 years ago. I'd also advise you to Google "Mortal Kombat death statics" and compare it to "gun death statistics." It's quite enlightening.

Not to worry though, because it looks like the travesty at Newtown has only caused an increase in gun sales. Thanks, Kindergarten Killers.

A Word from LeVar. (ReadingRainbowBlog)

Today's tragedy in Connecticut is not the type of news that makes reporters get out bed and say "Now this is the kind of thing I went to journalism school for!" Yes, we report on it. Yes, we grab screenshots of the "best" (if that superlative is even correct) tweets from the aftermath.

We embed videos of Obama crying, come up with opinion-heavy listicles and try to make some grand thesis about America's history of violence. But it's horrible. The murder of children is not something any of us want to dwell on, even as we understand the necessity of doing so. People went to Newtown today with cameras and crews not because they wanted to, but because when this kind of thing happens, someone needs to be on the ground.

And so it's only fair that after a long day such as this one, we end on a note of--if not exactly positivity--some sort of pick-me-up. Like LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow taking to PBS's blog to help parents explain gun violence to their own kids.

As Mr. Burton wrote:

If your children hear about this tragedy, it is natural for them to imagine “what if?” and “will it?” happen in my school? Am I safe??? Can this happen to me and my friends? Parents and teachers and caregivers should not shy away from directly discussing this with children who are concerned or anxious or fearful. Let them know their fear is normal, that it’s OK to be sad on behalf of those who died, and even frightened that it may happen to them. Then we must explain how they themselves are safe. That the gunman who caused this incident is no longer a threat to anyone. Tell them that their teachers and principals work every day to make sure their schools are safe, then as quickly as possible, get back to your normal routine! Be aware that for some kids they may never think about this again, while others may have nightmares or manifest their anxiety in other ways. Both are normal reactions.

We kind of wish Mr. Burton was given some special appointment as Secretary of Confusing, Unimaginable Events, who would go on TV every time something terrible happened and tell us that our feelings are natural and okay; it's fine to be scared and sad, but we are safe. We just want LeVar Burton to tell us that we're safe, and we'll believe him.

During the 9 o'clock hour on Friday morning, at least one black-clad male entered Sandy Hook Elementary, a K through 4 school in Newtown, Connecticut. Police believe he was armed with two semi-automatic handguns. He opened fire on students and faculty and, according to reports coming from major media outlets already at the scene, the shooter killed at least 27, including 18 children.

Reuters and WABC reported that the shooter was 24, carrying up to four weapons and wearing a bulletproof vest.

An Associated Press report in the Hartford Courant states that "one entire classroom was unaccounted for" as authorities attempted to determine who had survived the shooting.

The school is home to grades K through 4, with students no older than ten years of age.

Local media published photos of crying children locked hand-in-hand being led away from the school by uniformed officers and teachers with panicked expressions. In an interview with a Connecticut TV station, one of the children described how upon hearing the gunfire, students "went into a total panic." In another interview with the teen brother of a Sandy Hook student, the young man spoke of his sister hearing gunshots over the school's public announcement system.

Newtown, population 27,000, is a small, picturesque town located in western Connecticut, about 90 minutes north of New York City. In 2005, it was a contender for one of CNNMoney's "Best Places to Live" in the United States.

The gunman was reportedly dead at the scene, but early afternoon reports via CNN and MSNBC indicated another man was under arrest in connection with the massacre.

CBS News reported that a second body was found in the gunman's home.

This is a developing story, updates will be added to this post as needed.

Update, 2:12 p.m. CNN reports that the deceased gunman was named Ryan Lanza, of Newtown and also Hoboken, New Jersey. NBC indicates the dead body found in his home may be one of his parents.

Update, 2:20 p.m.  Moments after his name was reported Ryan Lanza's apparent Facebook profile was being widely shared over social media, including via Slate's Twitter feed.

Update, 2:29 p.m. Here is video that appears to be of the alleged shooter, Ryan Lanza, discussing The Daily Show while a student at Quinnipiac. Mr. Lanza also appears to have been quoted in a Quinnipiac student newspaper article from 2006 about love and relationships. "I prefer relationships," he said. "That’s just how I roll.”

Update, 2:35 p.m. Reports are now flying on Twitter that the Facebook profile that was widely circulated is not of the alleged shooter, Ryan Lanza. Slate has retracted their report, as has BuzzFeed. A supposed Facebook friend of Mr. Lanza's, Andrew Fletcher, posted a screenshot on Twitter showing Mr. Lanza updating his profile saying, "Everyone shut the fuck up it wasn't me."

"I had to unfriend Ryan because I was getting a ton of friend requests," tweeted Mr. Fletcher. "I won't be able to provide any further information."

There is no confirmation either way if the Facebook profile is fake or not, but Facebook users are still sharing the profile at an alarming rate.

Update, 2:47 p.m. President Obama is giving a statement at 3:15 p.m., according to New York Mag.

Update, 2:59 p.m. This story previously included a screenshoot of a Facebook profile at one point thought to be Mr. Lanza's, along with a YouTube video and a link to a newspaper article matching the personal specifics of the profile holder. These have been removed pending further investigation.

Update, 3:49 p.m. The New York Post is reporting that the shooter was actually Adam Lanza, age 20:

Adam Lanza, 20, shot his mother dead and targeted her kindergarten class at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., sources sais. Sources also told The Post that Lanza's mother was a teacher at the school and he "had a dispute with her."

Additional reports from several media outlets indicate at least two of Lanza's friends may be missing. Reuters reports that Connecticut police have identified only one shooter.