The mother of a murdered 20-year-old yesterday said that she doubted a gun amnesty would make any real impact.

Others in the community labelled the idea "laughable," and called for harsher penalties and tougher policing.

Meanwhile more gunshots were reported Thursday night in the Long Bay Lane area of Sandys. Police yesterday said they are investigating the incident.

Marsha Jones, mother of Shaundae Jones, who was shot and killed in Dockyard in 2003, said she believed an amnesty was a positive step. A gun amnesty was held amidst an outcry from the public over her son's murder.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," she said last night. "But the people who turn in weapons will not be the ones causing trouble. People with a conscience will be the ones who turn in guns, not the people without conscience.

"I just don't think it will have the effect we're looking for."

Only three handguns were turned in to police during the earlier weapons amnesty, along with ammunition, flare guns, replica weapons, knives, swords and a M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon Rocket launcher casing.

During the six years since the death of her son, Ms Jones has seen other families go through the same ordeal she had to suffer.

"I said after Shaundae died that we've lost so many, and so many of us are hurting," she said. "It's been six years, and I don't feel better. We can't have our children back, but we can get justice."

Ms Jones said that she would like to see improvements in the legal system to allow harsher penalties.

"The police are doing the best they can, but we need more of a police force then a police service," she said.

Even a simple change such as running sentences consecutively rather than concurrently would make a difference in the community, said Ms Jones, along with encouraging the prosecution to charge suspects with more offences, for example charging someone accused of stabbing someone with possession of a bladed article as well as murder.

The most recent call for gun amnesty came following the shooting of Richard Gaglio in his own home during an armed robbery.

A number of e-mails to The Royal Gazette disputed the idea that a gun amnesty would take weapons out of the hands of criminals.

Beverly Tillman of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, called for a stronger police force, writing: "Bermuda is in dire need for some US style policing up to and including SWAT."

Another writer, referring to herself as Kirsten B, wrote: "It's worth a shot, but I highly doubt anyone will turn in their guns. These people who knowingly have purchased and are using their weapons are not likely to 'hand them in.'

"These people obviously don't care about the consequences since they got the guns in the first place.

Instead of a gun amnesty, she called for Government and the Police Service to make sure that those individuals found guilty of offences are given harsher penalties.

"Why should these youths bother listening to anyone or care about getting caught when murderers get minimum charges and paedophiles serve a mere five years," she wrote. "What consequences are we really showing the youth? None."

On The Royal Gazette's Facebook page, several members argued about the effectiveness of the proposed amnesty.

Calvin Virgil suggested that instead of having an amnesty programme, Police could offer money or goods for illegal weapons, a strategy that has worked in several other areas including Toronto, the District of Columbia and Florida.

"They will have to get something for the guns they give up. In Orlando, Florida, the Police ran a programme called 'Guns for Shoes and Gift Cards.' They received 108 guns off the street. The Daytona Police ran a similar programme in August and received 300 gens off the street," wrote Mr. Virgil.

Another user, Allan Hill, responded: "Do you really think that some gang member with $10,000 of gold around his neck is going to trade in a gun for a pair of Nikes?

Morris Correia agreed, simply writing: "Bad guys don't give up guns."

Jefferson Colby Sousa meanwhile called for both an amnesty and harsher penalties, offering criminals both a chance to step away from crime and punishing those who choose to miss the opportunity.

"It's simple. If they don't bring them forward, throw the book at them. We must stop being soft," he wrote. "We just need the will to make it happen."