The National Rifle Association said Thursday that "bump stock" devices used to fully automate rifles "should be subject to additional regulation" in light of the Las Vegas massacre that killed 58 people and injured 489 others.
"In the aftermath of the evil and senseless attack in Las Vegas, the American people are looking for answers as to how future tragedies can be prevented," the NRA said in statement.
"Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control," the association added.
"Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks.
"This is a fact that has been proven time and again in countries across the world.
"The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations.
"In an increasingly dangerous world, the NRA remains focused on our mission: strengthening Americans' Second Amendment freedom to defend themselves, their families and their communities.
"To that end, on behalf of our five million members across the country, we urge Congress to pass National Right-to-Carry reciprocity, which will allow law-abiding Americans to defend themselves and their families from acts of violence," the NRA said.
Twelve of the 23 rifles police found in Stephen Paddock's room Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino were fitted with bump stocks to make them fully automatic, authorities said.
Bump stocks are a legal gun modification.
President Trump said Thursday night that he is open to considering legislation that would ban bump stocks.
“We’ll be looking into that over the next short period of time,” Trump said.
Earlier Thursday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders indicated the administration would weigh the proposals but stopped short of supporting a ban.
“We know that members of both parties and multiple organizations are planning to take a look at bump stocks and related devices,” she said. “We’d like to be a part of that conversation.”
Florida Rep. Carlos Curbelo was expected to introduce legislation Thursday to ban bump stocks, one of several Republicans who have called for tighter gun restrictions.
Two Democrats — Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Dianne Feinstein of California — sponsored legislation Wednesday to ban the devices.
For years, Republican lawmakers have been largely in line with the NRA, which has long objected to new controls.
The Las Vegas shooting, however, has brought new attention to bump stocks.
Democrats have long called for much stricter gun laws.
With the NRA and Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, open to more strict regulation of bump stocks, it stands a good chance of taking affect.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday that Congress needed to "look into" regulating the devices — a shift from the day before when the Wisconsin Republican resisted quick legislative action following the Las Vegas shooting.
"I didn't even know what they were until this week and I'm an avid sportsman," Ryan said.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas said Thursday he was open to considering new limits on bump stocks and called for a hearing.
"My reaction was that this was all designed to kill or injure as many people as possible as quickly as possible, and that's the reason why automatic weapons are generally not available," Cornyn said. "No sportsmen or hunter uses them."
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, also called for a ban on the devices.
But three other Republicans — Sens. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and John McCain and Jeff Flake, both of Arizona — said they wanted to hear more about the devices before making a final decision.
"I'm open to finding out about it and maybe putting it on the category that would be outlawed," Inhofe said.
On the broader issue of gun control, Sanders said President Trump was "a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.
"That hasn't changed.
"At this point in the process, I think we all need to take a step back," she added.
"We had one of the most horrific tragedies that's ever taken place on U.S. soil — and before we can run out and start talking about the preventions for something like that to happen again, we have to determine what caused it.
"We haven't gotten that far down the road.
"This administration's position is extremely clear," Sanders said. "We would look at taking any step we could to prevent something like this from happening again."
Bloomberg News contributed to this report.