Oregon shooter's father pleads for gun law reform

The father of the gunman who killed nine people at an Oregon community college said the incident could have been prevented if tighter gun laws had been in place to stop his son acquiring so many guns.

Charley Thompson, left, and his wife Rachel Thompson embrace as they place flowers at a makeshift memorial near the road leading to Umpqua Community College

Charley Thompson, left, and his wife Rachel Thompson embrace as they place flowers at a makeshift memorial near the road leading to Umpqua Community College Source: AAP

Twenty-six year-old Chris Mercer-Harper opened fire at the Umpqua Community College campus, leaving nine people dead before he was later killed by the police on Thursday.

Officials said Chris Mercer owned a total of 14 guns.

"The only thing I would like to say is a question that I would like to ask is how on earth could he compound 13 guns? How could that happen? They talk about gun laws, they talk about gun control but every time something like this happens they talk about it and nothing is done," Chris Mercer's father, Ian Mercer, told CNN.

"I’m not trying to say that’s to blame for what happened but if Chris had not been able to get a hold of 13 guns, it wouldn’t have happened."

Medical examiner offers more details on the timeline

The cause of death of the gunman who killed nine people in the Oregon college massacre was suicide, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said.

Two days after the rampage at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said at a press conference that the Oregon medical examiner determined the gunman had killed himself.

The shooter had opened fire in a classroom and engaged in a gunfight with police.

Sheriff Hanlin offered no details about medical examiner's finding, but offered a description of events preceding the gunman's death that seemed to suggest the gunman was killed by law enforcement.

Asked to explain, Hanlin said, "I can tell you that as those two officers arrived at the scene. There was an exchange of gunfire. The shooter was neutralized at that point in time."

Hanlin would not specify whether bullet that killed the gunman was shot by the gunman or by a police officer.

Community bands together

Residents in the US city of Roseburg, Oregon are helping each other to get through a difficult time after the fatal shooting at Umpqua Community College that claimed the lives of nine people.

Roseburg is a city of about 220,000 people. There is only one television station and Eamon Driscoll is its cameraman, one of the first news crews to receive the call about the massacre.

"Everyone's shocked just because just about everyone knows someone that goes to UCC or did to go to UCC. We've never had something as big as this happen in the five years that I've been there at least. So it's pretty unprecedented," said Driscoll.

Larry Rich has been the mayor of Roseburg for 18 years. He is also the assistant principal of the local high school, which means he almost certainly knows many of the victims and their families.

Still, he is reluctant to target increased gun control as an answer as Oregon is a state filled with hunters and recreational gun users.

"Well you're gonna hear people jump on the bandwagon for gun control and yes we need to look at that. But let's not kid ourselves and think that's the cure-all. There's more issues. We need to look at the whole picture, and be able to not only look at gun control, but help for those that are suffering mentally," said Rich.

The community of Roseburg is banding together in many ways. When the Red Cross and local hospital called for a blood drive, hundreds showed up throughout the day.

Michelle Cole has type O-negative blood, extremely valuable since it can be used by all types.

"They said they needed O-negative, so we came, called and found out where it was, and I'm here. I just wish I could do more," said Cole.

Mark Straw, another donor said, "I am a cancer survivor and I've not been able to donate for 15 or so years. And I'm hoping they'll want my blood today then I can help."

Many community members said they will give whatever they can to help the injured recover while paying tribute to those who so senselessly died.


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Source: Reuters



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