OTTAWA -- The shooting deaths of three Mounties in Moncton, N.B., proves Canada's gun laws "failed" and are a waste of money, says a national firearms group.

In the midst of a manhunt to find the gunman, the Canadian National Firearms Association said in a release that it "deplores the terrible actions by a clearly deranged individual," but that Canada's "excessive rules in place do not in any way increase public safety."

Politicians refused to weigh in.

"The focus now has to be on those killed and wounded and apprehending the person responsible," Justice Minister Peter MacKay said Thursday. "We have very rigorous gun laws in Canada now and this is a real tragedy."

An NDP spokesperson told QMI Agency the party wouldn't comment on gun politics before the suspect is captured.

"It's really too soon," NDP MP Francoise Boivin said. "I will keep my comments for when this big ordeal in Moncton is over."

The Canadian flag on top of the Centre Block of Parliament flew at half-mast Thursday and MPs held a moment of silence before question period.

Megan Leslie, an NDP MP from Halifax, said the RCMP and people of Moncton "are not alone, we are thinking of them and a whole nation stands with them."