Orlando shooting: US gun control policy slammed on social media

An outpouring of anger toward the lax US gun control policy was witnessed on social media after a shooting spree in an Orlando nightclub left 50 dead and 53 wounded on Sunday.

"When will the USA learn & introduce tighter gun control? How many more have to needlessly die?" A twitter user named Dave Nelson lashed out, Xinhua news agency reported.

The sentiment was shared by fellow twitter user Tevin Wooten, who asked on his account: "Does anyone want to admit to a gun violence problem now?"

According to local police, the shooter, identified as a 29-year-old US citizen of Afghan descent, had an assault-type weapon and a handgun as he stormed the gay club at around 2:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT).

Furious gun control supporters are questioning why laws are still permitting people with radical thinking or mental illness to acquire assault weapons.

Since the attack, social media have been buzzing with discussions on the massacre, with over 700,000 tweets using the hashtag of "Orlando."

Around 100 people were at the nightclub at the time of the shooting, and the shooter was killed by police in a shoot-out.

--IANS

lok/dg