U.N. Secretary-General calls for measures to reduce mass shootings

NEW YORK, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for measures to reduce the number of mass shootings in the United States.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the Secretary-General wished the United States could reduce the number of gun-related crimes and the loss of lives by taking necessary control measures through a fair and just process.

"In the face of yet another tragedy of this kind, the Secretary-General expresses his strong hope that the United States, through the robust democratic process that characterizes it, will be able to take the necessary action to reduce the appalling toll in human life that gun violence is taking on American society," Dujarric said in a statement.

Dujarric said Ban also is deeply saddened by the mass shootings that took place on Thursday at Umpqua Community in Roseburg, Oregon.

"He conveys his sincere condolences to the families of the many victims and wishes a swift recovery to those wounded," Dujarric said. "He notes that President Barack Obama has consistently demonstrated his commitment to address this scourge."

The Oregon gunman who killed nine people at the community college also was a student in the class as his victims, CNN reported.

The victims ranged in age from 18 to 67, and investigators said they discovered 13 firearms in connection with the shooter, Chris Harper-Mercer.

The gunman came to campus on Thursday heavily armed and wearing body armor, according to local police.