Oregon College Shooting: Obama calls for gun reform but Australian researcher questions its effectiveness
An Australian researcher has questioned the effectiveness of gun reform laws in preventing mass shootings after U.S. President Barack Obama referred to Australian legislation in his speech Friday morning AEST about the Oregon Umpqua Community College gunman attack.
Dr Samara McPhedran, senior research fellow at the Violence Research Prevention Program at Griffith University, said there is no evidence gun reform was the reason Australia’s last mass shooting was the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996.
“I think Mr Obama may have been a bit misinformed about the Australian experience. The claim is often made that Australian gun laws have prevented mass shootings. There is no evidence to support that.”
A 26-year-old male, who has since been identified as local resident Chris Harper Mercer, opened fire at a community college in the U.S. state of Oregon on Thursday, killing ten students and injuring seven. Mercer was shot dead after exchanging fire with officers.
At a public address on Thursday’s attack, Obama said countries similar to US, including Australia and Britain, have proved there are ways to prevent mass shooting attacks.
“We know that other countries, in response to one mass shooting, have been able to craft laws that almost eliminate mass shootings,” he said. “Great Britain, Australia - countries like ours.”
However, Dr McPhedran said more research must be done into the life history of mass shooting offenders to assist early intervention.
Mass shooting offenders often have a life history of interpersonal conflict, social exclusion, a lack of relationships, and difficulty holding down a job.
“The fact is that we don’t have a great deal of research and evidence around mass shootings. In some instances, mental illness is a factor. In other instances, it isn’t. We have to be very, very cautious about looking for simple answers. This is a very complex phenomenon.”
“I think it’s important that the US does have an informed evidence-based debate about these shootings. However, for Australia to step in and lecture other countries on what to do about policy probably isn’t very helpful, especially when a lot of the opinions expressed about Australian policy isn’t backed by fact and figures.”
Obama took a swipe at similar arguments in his speech, noting his response to shootings had become ‘routine’, and pointing out that states with the most gun laws have fewer gun deaths.
“The conversation, the aftermath...we become numbed to this.”
“It cannot be this easy for someone who wants to inflict other people to get his or her hands on a gun.”
“How can you, with a straight face, make the argument that more guns will make us safer?”
Watch Obama's speech below:
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