April 4, 2011Dear Sir,I write to urge our Government officials and those responsible for our safety, (the Governor, the Commissioner of Police, Cabinet Ministers and other elected officials and the DPP's office) to pay special heed to Scott and Kiona Smith's pleas and the pleas of all of the people who attended the recent vigils who cried out for more to be done to stop the murders occurring in Bermuda and get the guns off the street. Their cries and urges reflect how all of us feel.This is not a criticism of the Police, nor of the Government, who have been doing the best they can using conventional methods to deal with a very difficult problem. This is, however, to let the authorities know that the community feels it is time to move to unconventional methods, if need be, to prevent the murders and other criminal gang activities. MrsKiona Smith said “more work needs to be done not only to end the violence and get the guns off Bermuda's streets. It's about getting the bullets and getting the guns, someone is bringing them in.”Many of us believe Mr. Editor the time has come to:(1) increase Police powers;(2) spend more money on improving intelligence;(3) seek methods to break up this gang culture which seems to breed violence; and(4) increase public involvement. Somebody knows who brings the guns in, and somebody knows where the guns are and who has them. I am sure the police do all they can to find them what we want them to know is they have our blessing to do more.The Government should know if it takes more money or amendments to legislation to help rid Bermuda of this violence, they have our support to do whatever it takes to help eradicate the menace of violence and murders visited upon us. If we do not deal with this problem with all the energy we have it will destroy us. It will destroy our economy and as Mrs Smith has said: “We've already lost a generation of young people.”I therefore call on our leaders and those responsible for the safety of Bermuda, to respond to the calls of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the people in the candlelight vigils, indeed to the people of Bermuda to do more to stop the violence and the murders. You have our support.QUINTON L. EDNESS CBE JPWarwick