It is not a pleasant thought, but our way of life in Bermuda is under threat as hardened criminals who respect no one continue to spread fear throughout our community.

As the current killing spree rumbles on with no solution in sight, many Bermudians are beginning to wonder whether our leaders are really serious about tackling this crime problem head on.

Our small population, compared to larger jurisdictions, creates a unique situation, because many fear standing up and speaking out, knowing it could be a death sentence in the present climate. Some may view such a posture as simply surrendering to criminals who rule by fear. On the other hand, unless the authorities are prepared to implement drastic measures to combat crime in this country, we could be in for a period of community darkness never seen before.

Throughout our community, parents are voicing deep concerns about the climate they will be raising their children in. Holding press conferences and staging marches after each incident helps to highlight the problem, but too often, when the sun sets, little has changed.

It is as though we are prepared to move around in our private worlds, hoping that somehow all of this will fade in time. If we take that position, surely we are living in acute denial.

When we have criminals in our midst with a type of suicide bomber mentality, we should expect almost anything. That alone should make every Bermudian who believes in decent values uncomfortable.

While some neighbourhoods may be less vulnerable to crime than others, no one is really safe throughout Bermuda until respect for law and order has been restored. There will always be criminals in any society, but how we deal with them determines whether or not they will have the upper hand.

What is sad and worrying is that many in the community seem to be resigned to gun crime and are simply awaiting the next incident. That is sad.

What is puzzling is how legislators can find time to debate gambling when so much else is stake. There's nothing wrong with debating that subject, but where are our priorities? This is Heritage Month and despite recent happenings, I am reminded of the Bermuda I knew as boy. Obviously much has changed since those days, but what a joy it was to be able to play in almost any backyard without fear. I should point out that during that period, there was greater respect for order throughout our communities.

Despite the social disadvantages of those days what held things together was a common thread of family values and respect. Without many of the modern amenities enjoyed today, many of us still had wonderful times. Over the years the social disadvantages crumbled, but the family unit as we once knew it also began to crack, and with it significant changes in behaviour began to take root.

As discipline fell away from our value structure, both in the home and in our schools, negative attitudes emerged with more and more young people becoming hostile to any type of authority. Today we are confronted with problems on a scale never seen before. No one seems to know what to do.

If we fail to take steps to protect society from vicious criminals who have zero respect for law and order, we should be bracing for the unthinkable. Words along will not save this country. This wave of criminal activity should never be allowed to push Bermuda down the drain simply because we lacked the stomach to take proper action to turn things around.

As a society we have a choice, play political games while Rome (or Bermuda) burns, or take whatever action is required to save Bermuda for generations to come.

We have much to celebrate during Heritage Month, but we should be mindful that we need to act now to preserve values that brought us this far, so that future generations will have something to proud of.

Failure to act is not an option.