Massacre, critics are taking aim at the controversial plan to put armed guards in schools. The head of the powerful group is sticking to its guns on the explosive issue. One Congress Wont be able to do anything about until sometime next month. Brian mooar has details. Reporter in his first interview after the connecticut shooting tragedy, nra chief Wayne Lapierre was defiant. Look, a gun is a tool. The problem is the criminal. Reporter the powerful gun lobby and its allies insist gun laws arent the answer. They want more guns in the hands of good guys. If its crazy to call for putting police and Armed Security in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy. People resisted having weapons on airplanes. But i oversaw the federal air marshals, and its a deterrent. Reporter legislation will have to waited for the new congress to get settled in, but the debate is already underway. Trying to prevent School Shootings . Schools without talking about guns is like stopping lung cancer without addressing cigarettes. This problem runs deep and wide. Reporter outside of atlanta, gun owners are voting with their wallets, buying up weapons while they still can. I dont think its ever a wrong time to protect yourself and and exercise your Second Amendment rights. Reporter but some 30 miles away from the connecticut shooting scene, gun owners were surrendering their arms for cash. Its one of a number of gun buyback programs around the country. This event netted 64 firearms. Organizers say thats not a disappointment, its a start. Brian mooar, nbc news, washington. The pentagon says the Commanding Officer of s. E. A. L. Team 4 has died in afghanistan. 42yearold Navy Commander joe w. Price died saturday of what u. S. Military officials are calling a noncombatrelated injury. They tell nbc news has death is being investigated as a possible suicide. S. E. A. L. Team 4 was part of a mission to train local Afghan Police to fight the taliban. In a possible insider attack, a nato Spokesman Says an american adviser was shot and killed this morning by an Afghan Policewoman at kabul headquarters. At least 53 International Troops have been killed by Afghan Soldiers or police this year. Back here at home, it is crunch time for holiday shoppers. Many retailers have extended hours and stepped up promotions to entice those who have waited until the very last minute to finish their christmas list. Nbc has more on this. Reporter as santa finishes his list and checks it twice before his big trip, most americans are headed out, too, to finish shopping for everyone on their list. For my grandmom, something for my mom. Mom, dad, brother, sister. Sneakers for my nephew. Thats it. Im done. Reporter but according to a survey last week, there are millions of shoppers who are not quite done. 132 million to be exact. 26 million hadnt even started. I know who i need to buy for but not what im buying yet. Reporter to help in the holiday rush, many stores like target, toys r us, and macys stayed open around the clock this weekend and plan to through Christmas Eve. A lot of people have really challenging work schedules. The traditional work schedule is really no more. People like the convenience. Reporter although a recent poll showed that 17 were planning to spend less this year, retail analysts say sales this Holiday Season are on track to top 586 billion. If we recall, black friday did about 11. 2 billion in sales. But they had very strong results compared to last year. Retailers are hoping that the consumers will come back and deliver those same strong results. Reporter so with only one day left to get it all wrapped up, shoppers are expecting a hectic you know, try to get the good stuff. I think its more fun at the end. Reporter but happy holiday eve. Nbc news. And now for a look at your Holiday Travel forecast, heres nbcs dylan dreyer. It makes me im watching that and thinking its all men saying, yeah, whatever, did it the last minute. Thats every year. Its nothing new. True, but all men and me. I have a whole bunch of my family really . That i wont see on christmas. So ive been pushing it off because we were moving at the same time. Im surprised. I know. Normally im on top of things ahead of time. But i still have more Christmas Shopping to do. If youre out and about shopping or traveling today, we arent seeing too many problems in the northeast and south. But the southeast, thats where we have heavier rain moving into tennessee, the western carolinas and georgia. Eventually were going to see some heavier rain, as well. You see the activity across the west coast, this is a storm thats going to move into the oklahoma area as we go into Christmas Day. It is still far away. But the area of low pressure is going to track eastward. And eventually we are going to see that snow take hold in oklahoma, in arkansas, in little rock, arkansas, there hasnt been snow on Christmas Day since 1926. Here you see all the winter storm watches and advisories even across the panhandle of texas where that area could end up seeing in spots perhaps more than six inches of snowfall, certainly an area you dont expect to see the snow. The northeast could see a dusting as we go into tonight and tomorrow morning. Then it should fade away as we go into christmas afternoon. Thats a look at the weather across the country. Now heres a peek at the weather out your window. In new york city today, 39, partly cloudy. Other areas across the east coast do look mostly quiet unless youre heading down into the carolinas. Charlotte, North Carolina, today about 51 degrees. Orlando, florida, about 73. And that is your latest forecast. Veronica . Just a dusting, not a white christmas, just a dusting . Enough so santas sleigh has something to go through, but were only looking at really a dusting tonight and into tomorrow morning. 39 degrees . My goodness. Its winter. Thanks. Coming up next, a syrian air strike kills dozens. And more on the late senator inouye. And whats on the menu . Americas most expensive christmas dinner. Youre watching early today. Hi, im stationed at airsam air base. I wanted wish a Merry Christmas to my son and boys. Merry christmas. Im in southwest asia. I wanted to wish a very Merry Christmas to my wife, kara, and beautiful daughters. Ill be home soon, and i hope you have a great christmas and happy new year. And happy holidays to you, as well. Here are some stories making news this morning. Activists in syria see government warplanes attacked a bakery in a rebelheld town killing people including children. It appears to be one of the deadliest aerial attacks in the nearly twoyearlong civil war. Michael crapo is sorry after been arrested and driving under the influence near washington, d. C. , early sunday. And in honolulu, president obama and the first lady attended a Memorial Service for senator daniel inouye, the world war ii veteran who died last week at age 88 after serving nearly 50 years in congress. The markets will be open for a half day today and closed tomorrow for christmas. A traditionally quiet week could become hellish for traders. As fiscal cliff talks drag into the 11th hour with 600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts due to kick in early next year, lawmakers will get back to the table later this week after House Speaker John Boehners plan b failed to get enough republican support for a vote last week. Still, the market has been resilient. Despite fridays decline, the s p 500 posted its best week in four. And with just five trading sessions left in 2012, the dow has advanced 8 while the s p 500 climbed 13. The nasdaq has jumped 16 . Reports are due this week on pending home sales. Sales of new homes and a look at home prices in the nations 20 largest cities. Are you still not sure what to get for the person who has everything . New retail numbers show footwear was the fifth most popular gift on shoppers lists on black friday. A year ago, shoes didnt even make it into the top ten gifts for the season. Good news for hollywood. Attendance by moviegoers is up more than 5. 5 so far this year. Ticket revenue is projected to jump by 6 by the end of 2012 which would be the industrys biggest yearly increase in a decade. After surprisingly strong sales on thanksgiving, look for some Mcdonalds Restaurants to be open on christmas for the First Time Ever to boost december sales. And a wellknown london chef has been offering what is being billed as the worlds most expensive christmas dinner for just over get this 200,000. Yes, most of the proceeds go to charity, but still no takers for this fancy feast which includes 60,000 bubbly, 4,000 melon, 10,000 worth of edible gold leaf, and okay, the piece de resistance, coffee beans excr e excreted by a wildcat. Huh . All right. Heres whats coming up ahead a holiday tragedy in ohio. And a heartfelt commute in North Carolina. A look at how the nfl playoffs are shaping up. That and more next on early today. Hi, im lieutenant jennifer shipping from kandahar, afghanistan. And i just wants to say happy holidays to my family in florida and virginia and california. I love you and miss you, guys. Good morning, im lieutenant frank vermel in camp leatherneck, afghanistan. Want to say Merry Christmas and happy new year to my family and friends in south jersey and across the tristate area. Cant wait to see you in the new year. A very good morning to you. Welcome back. Heres a look at some other stories making news early today in america a Holiday Travel tragedy in ohio. Three adults and a child were killed early sunday when a minivan carrying a family leaving a Christmas Party went the wrong way on a highway and crashed head on into another minivan. Two other children are in critical condition. Authorities believe alcohol was involved. Residents of one community in North Carolina have started a new holiday tradition placing 26 candlelit bags along their street to honor the 26 victims killed in the newtown, connecticut, School Shootings. The Organizer Says she plans to make it an annual event. And it was a happy reunion between a phoenix woman and her best friend. Cane, a siberian husky, went missing from his back yard about nine months ago, possibly after being stolen. He somehow ended up in oregon. Thanks to a microchip, canes owner was located, and he was flown home just in time for christmas. Happy dog. In sports now, the nfls week 16 is complete, and who is hotter than the Seattle Seahawks . Just ask the San Francisco 49ers. Blocking the Second Quarter field goal attempt. Seattles Richard Sherman returned the loose ball 90 yards. The seahawks led the way to the 4013 win. Along with the victory, the seahawks also locked up a playoff berth. Earlier sunday, dallas forced overtime after trailing new orleans by 14. Drew brees found holeston in overtime. The fumble recovered by teammate jimmy graham on the 2 yard line. Garrett hartleys 20yard field goal gave new orleans the 3431 victory. In philadelphia, Robert Griffin iii was back after sitting out a week with a sprained right knee. He found santana moss for a touchdown as washington won its sixth in a row. 2710. With one week to play, the nfc playoff picture has atlanta, San Francisco, green bay all in. The redskins host dallas next week to decide the nfc east. At the moment, seattle and minnesota hold the wild card. Home field are still up for grabs. Chicago, dallas, and the new york giants Still Holding on to some hope. In the efc, Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted by snaetds Reggie Nelson who updates Reggie Nelson who returned the ball to the 45 yard line with only 14 seconds to play. On the next play, andy dalton found a. J. Greene for another 21 yards. The bengals ended pittsburghs playoff hopes when josh browns 43yard field goal locked it up for cincinnati with the 1310 victory. Finally, the only thing left to decide in the afc is who will get a first round bye in the playoffs. If houston or denver lose, new england can move up with a win. Baltimore is the fourth seed at the moment. Indianapolis and cincinnati will be the wild card teams. Just ahead, rihannas massive donation. And which real housewives star and her husband are calling it quits. Plus, tom cruise gets an unexpected trashing from bilbo and friends next. Im Master Sergeant wales in southwest asia. Id like to say hello to my daughters in crestview, florida. I love you and miss you and will see you soon. Im Lieutenant Colonel john walsh in kabul, afghanistan. Id like to wish happy holidays to my family back in tampa, florida. My wife susan and the best son in the world, jack. Happy holidays, everybody. Love you. And good morning. We are talking about some really cold temperatures all through the dakotas. In fact, tonight into tomorrow morning, we have windchill advisories in effect in that area where it could be about 25 to 35 degrees below zero for your windchill. Across the east coast, for your Christmas Eve forecast, looking for temperatures in the 30s and lower 40s. Heavier rain will start to move into the southeast. Then on Christmas Day, heavy snow moves into the oklahoma area, also into arkansas. Some areas could pick up six inches of snow. So certainly an unusual place to get snow on Christmas Day. Absolutely. All right. Thanks, dylan. Time to look at Entertainment News now. Notch another big win for the little guys. Bilbo and pals dwarfed the competition at the box office for a second straight week. The hobbit an unexpected journey, raked in nearly 37 million. Less than half of last weeks haul, but still more than double tom cruises jack reacher, which came in second. Rihanna has gotten into the holiday spirit donating nearly 2 million to a hospital in her native barbados in memory of her late grandmother. She says the gift was her way of giving back to barbados. One year after separating, Ashton Kutcher filed for divorce from demi moore last week. The official may december split could cost the 2 and a half men star a pretty penny. Moore wants as much money from kutcher as she got from ex bruce willis. That amount has never been disclosed, but it is thought to be considerable. And another hollywood ending. New york housewifeturnedentrepreneur Bethenny Frankel has separated from her husband of two years, jason hoppy. The 42yearold tweeted, i am heartbroken, i am sad. We will work through this as a family. Sad. I mean, all the divorce talk around the holidays. Heres good news i think that Justin Bieber is getting back to selena. This is good. And a friend of mine said that maybe tom cruise and katie holmes are getting back together. I dont see interesting. Well see how that plays out. I dont know. Apparently it was in a tabloid. There you go. Its always true, right . This comes from kusa in denver where a familys tradition is seeing a final year. An opulent light display was built for 50 years. What started as one strand of lights has grown to a 70foothigh, 150,000light setup. For the past 15 years, hes also collected donations for a local childrens hospital. However, herman says that he is getting old, it is time to hang up those lights. That is quite a spectacle. Im veronica de la cruz. This is early today, your first stop of the day on your nbc station. Youre watching wbaltv 11. Live, local, latebreaking. This is 11 news today at 5 00 a. M. It is a quiet start to the day. Things get more interesting as to move to the afternoon. Rain is approaching from the south. It will start to interact with cold air and it could start to change into an icy mix. Maybe some sleet. 4 56. 28 degrees at the airport. The ravens beat take the Division Title with a statement win against the new york giants. The morning commute looking clear at york road [captioning made possible by Constellation Energy group] captioned by the National Captioning Institute www. Ncicap. Org youre watching wbaltv 11. Live, local, latebreaking. This is 11 news today at 5 00 a. M. Good morning. I am sarah caldwell. Im jennifer franciotti. Merry christmas. Things get ill interesting throughout the day. People are finishing up their holiday preparations