Family of 7 killed in Australia's worst possible mass shooting since 1996

Farmers are allowed to own guns under Australian law because they have a legitimate need to use them to kill feral pests and predators or sick or injured livestock

A family of seven, including four children, were found dead with gunshot wounds on Friday at a rural property in southwest Australia in what could be the country's worst mass shooting in 22 years, police and media said.

The children died with their mother and grandparents. The three generations had moved to Osmington, a village of fewer than 700 people near the tourist town of Margaret River, in 2015 to grow fruit, according to media reports.

Police would not comment on the possibility of a murder-suicide, but they are not looking for a suspect.

After being alerted by a phone