In a bold legislative step, Government has declared its desire to have anybody found with an illegal blade in a public place imprisoned for a mandatory minimum of three years.

Announcing the drastic new sentencing guidelines in the House of Assembly, Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton said Government and the community ?had had enough? of armed thugs violently breaking the peace and would no longer tolerate such ?destructive? behaviour.

And at a lunchtime Press conference, with a menacing-looking collection of knives, swords and axes seized by Police on the table in front of him, Premier Alex Scott said Bermuda would ?never give in? to those who seek to destroy an otherwise peaceful and law-abiding community.

Up until the end of last week, it had been the intention of Government to stiffen sentences for offensive weapons offences ? but to give judges the discretion to either imprison or fine those caught.

But after the bloody gang violence aboard the last Saturday night and the subsequent public outcry, the decision was taken that mere fines ? no matter how large ? would not prove a sufficient deterrent.

Indeed, anybody found with such weapons on school premises is likely to be even more harshly dealt with ? with the Magistrates? Court set to be given the powers to hand out five-year minimum sentences and the Supreme Court a seven-year minimum.

?We recognise that that these sentences are among the most severe sentences that this Government has passed into law,? Mr. Horton said.

?However, we are confident that this is the right approach and we expect that now every person who carries a knife or a bladed weapon will stop and think about what he or she is doing. Do individuals wish to be imprisoned for carrying these weapons? I appeal to every mother and father and adult person to speak to their children before they leave home to warn them of the dangers of offending.

?Check them if necessary and counsel them, encourage them to obey the laws of the land. People who leave home and arm themselves with machetes, knives, meat cleavers and fish knives will get a sentence of mandatory imprisonment.

?Parents and guardians must speak to their children before they leave, lest they are faced with the dreadful reality of visiting them in one of the Island?s correctional facilities.?

Those who are in possession of bladed weapons in connection with their job, such as gardeners or fisherman, will be exempt from the law as will those who wear or use such objects for organised sporting events, religious dress or national costume, Mr. Horton clarified.

However, Government and the Police will not allow these privileges to be abused, Mr. Horton added, and gardeners found carrying their machetes late at night in public could not expect to raise such a defence in court.

Police meanwhile, will also be able to temporarily declare any public place ? such as a concert or sports event ? a ?preventative search area? where they will be allowed to search any person or vehicle they believe to be carrying offensive weapons.

?Government has taken a bold step to address a problem that has caused widespread concern in the community,? Mr. Horton concluded.

?The Government will continue to monitor developments in this area and will not hesitate to return to this House and amend the law again if necessary so that the criminal-minded person will know that the law will defeat them always. We trust that right thinking people will lay down their weapons, seek peace among themselves and enjoy the good things about life.?

Premier Scott was quick to support his Minister.

?We live in a wonderful, wonderful country ? but there is trouble in paradise,? he said.

?There is no hiding from the fact that the young people who are getting into trouble look like me and we simply cannot accept their behaviour anymore. It has come to the point where we have to speak to these young people through tough legislative means, which is unfortunate but necessary.

?Some of our young people are just not acting in a way that they must and should.?

The Premier concluded: ?It is time for them to cease and desist. There are a multitude of opportunities available to you to succeed in Bermuda. But you are going to be in big trouble with the law and the country if you continue to act in the way you are. You are responsible for yourselves and it is up to you as to what happens in your future. Bermuda is not going to give in to you. Cabinet and country are of one-mind on this issue and we will do everything to maintain law and order. But we are trying to give you the opportunities and are laying the basis for you to do something about your future.?