In about 1996, Australia made people hand in their weapons and suicide and shootings have reportedly decreased because of it.

In 1999, the Bowling For Columbine documentary showed how easy it was to purchase a gun from Walmart, of all places, after the shooting at the Columbine school.

We’re so used to going to stores for homewares and clothing that most Australians were shocked to see how easy it was to purchase weapons in the US.

That ease of access once again had horrific consequences when almost 60 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in Las Vegas.

Nevada resident Stephen Paddock opened fire at a country music festival near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

It is reported that 19 firearms were found in his home and 23 in his hotel room.

Since 1999, there have been multiple mass shootings with at least 10 killed:

And now at least 58 are dead at Mandalay Bay. How many more until the US government decides enough is enough and opts for stricter gun laws?

Gun lobbyists and their supporters in the US have always argued – even in the face of such tragedies – that it is both a constitutional right and long-standing tradition to own firearms.

A couple from this region had a lucky escape from the Vegas horror when they cancelled plans to attend the music festival.

They told the Daily Liberal they were still in shock and “ ... we could have been in the middle of it. You just sort of realise that you might not have come home.”

The death toll in the seven listed shootings – and Vegas, so far – is 225. (Over 11,000 people have died in US gun violence since the start of 2017.)

The question is: why are there no measures to stop these dreadful events (and other gun deaths) from happening?

Maybe the nation’s pro-gun advocates have an answer, because the rest of the world doesn’t and never will.