Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer has called on the US media to take up the challenge of gun law reform following the shooting deaths of two journalists.

Mr Fischer said Americans were 15 times more likely to be shot dead on a per-capita basis than Australians thanks to John Howard’s gun law reforms almost 20 years ago.

“It is high time for the US media and key leaders to step up and challenge US congressmen to act on gun law reform,” he told AAP on Thursday.

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The White House issued a rapid call for Congress to pass gun control laws after the two journalists were shot to death during a live television broadcast in southern Virginia.

Mr Fischer said the US media, especially the big TV networks, needed to act together to counter the influence of the National Rifle Association.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia had much stricter gun laws than the US.

“I have over the years certainly discussed this kind of thing with American friends and it seems that there is just a different way of thinking about guns there,” he told the Seven Network.

“Thank God we don’t have it in this country.”