Tim Fischer, the former deputy prime minister of Australia, has called for a boycott on U.S. tourism following the death of Christopher Lane as a way to influence the NRA and gun control policy in America.
The 22-year-old from Melbourne, was a member of the baseball team at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. On Friday, three teenagers gunned him down as a result of boredom.
Fischer, who served under John Howard from 1996 to 1999, said the tragic incident demands action.
"Tourists thinking of going to the USA should think twice," he said. "I am deeply angry about this because of the callous attitude of the three teenagers, but it's a sign of the proliferation of guns on the ground in the USA. There is a gun for almost every American."
While Fischer was in office, he assisted Howard in reforming gun control policy in Australia.
Following Lane's fatal shooting, three suspects -- Chancey Allen Luna, 16, James Francis Edwards Jr., 15, and Michael Dewayne Jones, 17 -- were charged. Luna and Edwards were charged of first-degree murder and Jones was charged with using a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon and with accessory to first-degree murder. All three will be tried as adults.
Like most incidents involving guns, the death of Lane has caused social media outlets like Twitter to flood with commentary stemming from all opinions, and many comparing this tragedy to death of Trayvon Martin.
David Webb, a radio host and Tea Party member from New York, tweeted on Wednesday, "Christopher Lane (White) Hunted Down And Killed Like A Dog By 2 (Black) Youths."
Another radio host, Joe Thomas, of Virginia, tweeted "So, when is the 'I'm Christopher Lane' rally?"
In addition to the conservative opinions, active user Piers Morgan disregarded race commentary and stuck to his unwavering position on gun control and tweeted, "When an innocent Australian student is shot dead in Oklahoma for 'fun' - America's gun crisis becomes the world's problem."
