Virginia shooting: Alison Parker's father in gun reform appeal

The father of Alison Parker, one of two journalists killed live on air, has appealed to US President Barack Obama to push through tougher gun laws.

"You need to do this... I will help you do this and the press is with you on this because they just lost one of their own," Andy Parker said. Staff at WDBJ TV in Virginia have been mourning the loss of his daughter, a reporter, and cameraman Adam Ward.

They were shot dead live on air by a disgruntled ex-colleague on Wednesday. The attack has reignited the debate about gun control laws in the US.

Ms Parker's father, Andy, acknowledged it would be an uphill battle to change the law, but said the president could take on the challenge as he had with other issues including healthcare reform.

"Mr President you need to do this. Please do it. Please do it for us and for other people so they're not going to lose their Alisons and their Adams," he said in an emotional message.

President Obama supported legislation to extend background checks for gun buyers and a ban on rapid-firing assault weapons after 26 people were killed at a school in Newton, Connecticut, but it was rejected in 2013.

Last month, he said the failure to pass "common sense gun safety laws" was the greatest frustration of his presidency. On Wednesday, he said the US needed to do "a better job of making sure that people who have problems, people who shouldn't have guns, don't have them."

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said she would "take on" the issue of gun violence, while admitting it was "a very political, difficult issue in America".

She said: "I want to reiterate how important it is we not let yet another terrible incidence go by without trying to do something more to prevent this incredible killing that is stalking our country."

Republican presidential hopefuls Jim Gilmore and Ben Carson have warned against any rush to introduce tougher gun controls. Although the issue has stalled nationally, gun control measures have gone ahead in the last two years in several states.