Reconsider US travel, says Fischer
Australians planning travel to the United States should reconsider their plans, says former deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer.
Mr Fischer told CNN Australians were repulsed by the indiscriminate shooting of Melbourne baseball player Chris Lane last week and many were calling for a US boycott.
"It is another example of murder mayhem on Main Street," Mr Fischer told CNN's Piers Morgan. "People thinking of going to the USA for business or tourists trips should think carefully about it given the statistical fact you are 15 times more likely to be shot dead in the USA than in Australia per capita per million people."
Authorities allege 22-year-old Mr Lane was jogging along Country Club Road in Duncan when he was shot in the back in a random drive-by shooting.
"There is deep seated anger this time," Mr Fischer said. "Just for the record, Australia has had zero gun massacres since 1996, and in the United States, 80 people are killed by guns every single day.
"So, it is another example of murder and mayhem on Main Street. Yes, people are thinking of going to the USA on business, vacation, trips, should think carefully about it given the statistical facts you are 15 times more likely to be shot dead in the USA than in Australia per capita per million people."
Three teenagers appeared in court yesterday over the attack, which came one day before they were due to return to school.
James Edwards Jr, 15, and Chancey Luna, 16, were charged as adults with felony murder in the first degree. Michael Jones, 17, faces two charges -- use of a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon and accessory after the fact to murder in the first degree.
