Oregon mass shooting is 294th in US this year, Latest World News - The New Paper
World

Oregon mass shooting is 294th in US this year

This article is more than 12 months old

A mass shooting that occurred at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, on Thursday (Oct 1) left 10 dead and seven others injured.

According to the website Mass Shooting Tracker, the incident brings the total of mass shootings  defined where there are four or more people killed or injured by gunfire — this year in the US alone to a shocking 294.

The gunman, identified as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, was shot dead by police during an exchange of gunfire, reported Mirror Online.

Mercer was allegedly well prepared for the incident — he had body armour on, was heavily armed with three pistols and a rifle and had a large amount of ammunition.

There are also allegations that a thread on online bulletin board 4chan may have been posted by the shooter when he was planning his attack.

Visibly upset, US President Barack Obama said at a press conference that he was determined to push for a change in gun laws

"Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it. We've become numb to this," he said in his speech at the White House.

The President continued: "Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It's not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel, and it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America -- next week, or a couple months from now."

"We are not the only country on Earth that has people with mental illnesses or want to do harm to other people.

"But we are the only advanced country on Earth that sees these mass shootings every few months."

The Washington Post found that on some days, there are up to five different incidents of mass shooting in throughout day.

In June alone there 44 mass shootings. 

The week from July 12 to 18 saw the most mass shootings - a total of 18, five of which happened on July 15.

July and March also saw the longest consecutive streak of shootings - at least one incident happened a day in a span of 12 days in each month.

The last mass shooting in a school with high casualties happened in Santa Monica College on June 7, 2013, where seven people including the gunman, his father and brother died.

Sources: The Washington Post, Mirror Online, CNN, Mass Shooting Tracker

Oregon, mass shooting, Obama, gun violence

Gun ViolenceBarack ObamaGunsunited statesOregon