Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness has come under more fire over his life sentence-for-guns idea.

National Liberal Party chairman Charles Jeffers accused Mr. Edness of floating a "trial balloon''.

"Is the Minister playing political games by throwing out suggestions to ascertain the public's response?.'' Mr. Jeffers shared lawyer Richard Hector's view guns were symptomatic of a deeper problem in Bermuda.

"We need to be addressing the root causes and not just the symptoms. By that we mean the breakdown in traditional family values, discipline, job and housing issues.'' His comments came after lawyers took aim at the proposal to slap mandatory life sentences on criminals who use guns.

Some said current powers were strong enough, while others claimed the proposal would lead to injustice, with people convicted of manslaughter getting off lighter than armed robbers.

Former Attorney General Saul Froomkin understood the mandatory minimum term for a first handgun offence was still ten years.

And the sentence for a second was 20 -- to run consecutively to any other offences.

"It's just a question of whether the Crown proceeds on charges as separate firearms offences.

Philip Perinchief, a former PLP candidate, said: "I reckon judges are in tune with what is happening in the community and we should not take away their discretion.'' Mr. Edness also received flak from Shadow Public Safety Minister Alex Scott who urged caution.

This week, Mr. Edness said: "I think the recent changes to the laws regarding handguns were quite strong for those caught in possession of such weapons.

"But what we did not do is say if anyone was caught using a firearm then that would be a mandatory life sentence without question if they were convicted.

He added: "Government wants to send the message to everyone that if a person is caught and convicted of using a handgun to commit a crime then the punishment is life in prison.'' Yesterday Mr. Jeffers said a senior UBP Minister had once again demonstrated the Government was "one of reaction rather than action''.

And he accused Mr. Edness of reacting to the recent armed robbery at the Somerset branch of the Bank of Bermuda.

"It seems obvious that there has been no meaningful discussion with Cabinet or Caucus and the Minister is floating a trial balloon.

"A Government is elected to govern. This entails doing the necessary studies, consulting with the appropriate persons and/or organisations and coming up with sensible and fair legislation.

"Lawyer Richard Hector obviously has his finger on the pulse when he suggested that guns were symptomatic of a bigger problem in Bermuda.'' GOVERNMENT GVT