US PRESIDENT Barack Obama renewed calls for tighter gun control laws on Thursday after a gunman killed at least nine people at an Oregon college.

Armed with three handguns and an assault rifle, the man informally identified as Chris Harper Mercer went on a murderous rampage at the Umpqua Community College on Thursday morning before being shot dead by police.

One witness said he had demanded to know students’ religion, shooting those who answered that they were Christian.