The White House ripped the National Rifle Association before the pro-gun group’s members meet in Houston days after 19 fourth grade students and two teachers were shot dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The NRA is “marketing weapons of war to young adults,” said press secretary Karine Jean-pierre. She added the organization does not represent “gun owners who know that we need to take action.”

“The leadership of the National Rifle Association have proven time and time again they are contributing to the problem, not trying to solve it,” she said Thursday.

Jean-pierre was careful not to criticize law enforcement after a confusing news conference Thursday that failed to answer questions regarding what unfolded earlier this week. She also delegated a legislative response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Jean-pierre, a mother of an elementary school child, opened her briefing with an emotional statement about the shooting, imploring the country not to become

“numb” to such tragedies.

“These were elementary school kids,” she said. “They should be losing their first teeth, not losing their lives.”

The president and first lady Jill Biden are expected to visit Uvalde on Sunday, the same month they made a similar trip to Buffalo, N.Y., after a gunman killed 10 black shoppers at a Tops Friendly Market.