NINETEEN people were hurt in a shooting at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans, police said as the US city's mayor vowed to find those responsible.

Those wounded by gunfire in the early afternoon incident included 17 adults and two 10-year-olds, the local police department said in a statement.

"Many of the victims were grazed (some by bullets that ricocheted)," it said. "At this point, there are no fatalities, and most of the wounds are not life-threatening."

The children -- a boy and a girl -- suffered graze wounds and were in good condition while a man and a woman were still in surgery.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the shooting was unrelated to terrorism, calling it "street violence".

"From all of our intelligence, we have no reason to believe it was an act of terror, just street violence,'' said Mary Beth Romig, a spokeswoman for the FBI in New Orleans. But "certainly today was not a normal day in New Orleans".



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New Orleans Mothers Day shooting

The incident comes less than a month after twin bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon killed three people and wounded more than 260. In December, a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Connecticut, killing 20 children and six staff members.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ronal Serpas told reporters earlier that shots from "maybe two different types of weapons" rang out police saw three people running away immediately after the shooting.

"It appears that these two or three people just for a reason unknown to us, started shooting at, toward or in the crowd," Superintendent Serpas said. "It was over in just a couple seconds."

Police were searching for a motive for the shooting and appealed to the public to come forward with any clues. A $US2500 cash reward has been offered to information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible.

"It's just a very tragic day for us," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu told reporters after visiting some of the wounded in hospital.

"We will find them," he said. "It really is important in this town for people to step forward now so that we can find people who do this and make sure that they don't hurt innocent victims anymore."

"It is important for us ... to change the culture of death on the streets of New Orleans to a culture of life."

The Times-Picayune newspaper quoted Serpas as saying there were about 300 to 400 people in the parade and some 200 people in the area of the shooting.

The newspaper reported that one of its journalists, who was participating in the parade, heard six or seven shots being fired.

It also cited a parade participant as saying that those in the event were throwing teddy bears and candy to watching revellers.

"I think what frustrates all of us is the selfishness of some people, and I think what frustrates all of us is that the great culture of this city sometimes stumbles a bit because of the selfish behaviour of some people," Superintendent Serpas said.

There are still shooting ranges here in Australia, they're just not everywhere like they are in Australia, and they're not advertised like health insurance.

In Sydney, I believe there's one in Hornsby, there was (not sure if it is still around) in Maroubra and I think there's one near Penrith. They're like gun shops, rare, but they're there.

I wish we still had shooting ranges in Australia, surely there's nothing wrong with going in and being able to hire guns in a safe secure environment ?

America is currently anually getting trillion dollar deficits. I'd estimate about 1/3 of the guns would be baught back (I'm pretty sure that's the amount in aus) at $500 each it would cost about $50Billion. A lot of money but not too significant that it couldn't just be added to the debt.

In theory, yes. However america has lost its AAA credit rating and therefore nobody will lend them the several billion dollars necessary to enact such an immense plan.

The only way this happens is through commercial sponsorship which results in:
1) a very expensive advertising campaign in which companies get a massive PR boost for "doing the right thing for america" by funding the gun buyback. It costs the company (or companies) hundreds of millions but the subsequent PR and social fortitude is immense.
2) The company give vouchers, ensuring that the money has to be spent in their stores, buying business and forcing the vouchers (and no doubt additional money) is spent by the american public, stimulating the economy.

I'd go for option 2.

it could kill 2 bird with one stone. it would basically put in place a stimulus as people that need the money will sell their guns if they have them which grows economies, and it takes away a decent amount of guns people shouldn't have anyway.

It's not an excuse, it's a legitimate issue. An american economy heavily in debt can't afford a gun buyback.

Sell them to the Middle East :lol:

-PB

It's not an excuse, it's a legitimate issue. An american economy heavily in debt can't afford a gun buyback.

A gun buy back ultimately, where the excuse of the cost is pushed aside

Until the American people feel safe that their family won't be shot by a bunch of gang bangers they'll continue buying guns in the false belief that it offers them protection. And the NRA plays on that rather cleverly.

70% of gun murders in the US is gang-related.

Gun buybacks and bans only serve to take them away from people who do not pose the greatest danger to society.

Until the US government declares a proper "war on guns" the way they declared a war on terror, nothing will change. They need to attack the criminals and remove THEIR guns, this is at the root of the problem.

Once they remove those they can begin taking guns away from the law abiding citizens who will then have little to fear.

Going about it the other way around is divisive and at the end will achieve nothing. And the first time some crims shoot a family that gave up its guns the NRA will have a field day.

Take the guns away from the crims first. It's the only way for the people to have faith in the process and the intent.

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