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U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement about the shootings in Oregon from the White House in Washington October 1, 2015. A gunman opened fire at a community college in southern Oregon on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding some 20 others before he was shot to death by police, state and county officials said. Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

The news of yet another mass killing by a gunman at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, United States, on Thursday (Oct. 1) has led U.S. President Barack Obama to call for the modification of gun laws. He praised Australia in his speech by calling it one of the nations that has successfully reduced the number of mass killings by changing its gun laws.

In his speech, Obama condemned the mass shooting, paid condolences to the families of the victims and also demanded an overhaul of U.S. gun laws. The president mentioned Australia when he pointed out how the country has been able to deal with similar situations simply by introducing changes to its gun laws.

"We know that other countries in response to one mass shooting have managed to craft laws that almost eliminate mass shootings," he said in a statement. "Friends of ours, allies of ours, Great Britain, Australia, countries like ours. So we know there are ways to prevent it."

The president also said he hopes that he wont have "to come out again in my tenure as president to offer my condolences to families under these circumstances" but added that he cannot "guarantee that."

Obama also talked about the National Rifle Association (NRA)--a strong lobby in the U.S that is vehemently against all proposals to limit the ownership of guns. He urged gun owners in America to determine whether their views are being properly represented by the organisation. While the majority of NRA members support a complete background check of people willing to own a gun, the organisation has steadfastly opposed it.

Obama has been an advocate for a change in gun laws for a long time. He, along with Vice-President Joe Biden, tried to push for reforms in gun laws back 2012 after a similar mass killing at a school in Connecticut, U.S.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has identified Chris Harper Mercer as the gunman who responsible for killing 10 people at Umpqua Community College.

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