Piers Morgan goes on anti-gun rant after the Charleston shooting

The former Britain's Got Talent judge is a strong opponent of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution

Former ‘Daily Mirror’ editor Piers Morgan (Getty Images)

Piers Morgan has heavily criticised US gun laws in the aftermath of the Charleston shooting.

On Wednesday in Charleston, Carolina, a white man entered a historic African-American church and opened fire, killing nine people.

Morgan, who has been denounced by the US right in the past for his trenchant views on firearms, took to social media to oppose the idea that guns should be owned by civilians.

Is says in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution that all people have the right to bear arms, although specific legislation about who can own guns and how they can be carried and stored varies from state to state.

Morgan came in for criticism and praise from different camps after calling US gun culture "disgusting". He also questioned whether it was sensible to sell firearms in supermarkets such as Walmart.

Morgan has had a long-standing feud with the National Rifle Association, and he believes he lost his CNN programme in 2013 because of his stance on gun control.

He told The Times: "Look, I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing," "and there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it."

He added: "If only I didn't care so passionately about guns, perhaps I wouldn't have chased away a grand American audience."

Since the Charleston shootings, he's said he doubts anyone will be brave enough to take on the issue.