Kamala Harris has praised Australia’s gun control laws at a state luncheon held in honour of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to mark the last official event of his visit.
In the wake of a mass shooting in Maine which left 18 people dead, the US Vice President declared the gun violence which had “terrorised” many American communities “doesn’t need to be this way”.
“The leading cause of death of American children is gun violence,” Harris said standing alongside Albanese and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Gun violence has terrorized and traumatized so many of our communities in this country.
“Let us be clear, it does not have to be this way, as our friends in Australia have demonstrated”.
An extensive manhunt is still underway for 40-year-old Robert Card after he allegedly opened fire at multiple venues in the city of Lewiston.
The US Army reservist had recently been discharged from a mental health centre despite threatening to commit a shooting at the facility.
Seven victims were shot and killed at the bowling alley Just-In-Time Recreation, while eight people died in the billiards room of Schemengees Bar & Grille restaurant.
An additional three victims died in hospital while 13 others were injured. Maine State Police Colonel William G. Ross said it was a confronting scene for officers.
“A large law enforcement response from multiple surrounding agencies assisted the Lewiston police department in trying to identify who this individual was, what was happening,” he said.
“As you can imagine, this was a very fast-paced, fast-moving, very fluid scene, very dangerous scene that these guys and girls were into”.
Colonel Ross said authorities had so far identified eight of the 18 victims.
