The sniper in the suburbs of Washington, DC, is, quite simply, a terrorist.

While his (or her) motives and mental state are unknown, he is engaging in the most basic of terrorist tactics, by striking suddenly in the most innocent of places and against the most innocent of people.

Yet, in contrast to his "wars" against al-Qaeda and Iraq, President George W. Bush has been quite reticent about this spate of terror. Part of the reason must be because President Bush supports his country's lunatic gun laws and draws support from the powerful National Rife Association.

Other legislators have proposed measures that would make it take longer for Americans to buy guns, or would "identify" the owner of a weapon used in a crime.

Yet few are attempting to ban the sale of guns in the US - again because of the strength of he anti-gun control lobby.

So far nine innocent people have died at the hands of a person who might not have a weapon at all if the US had gun laws in line with, for example, Bermuda's. And yet, nothing happens.

What does this have to do with Bermuda? Only this: In the last decade, a dozen or so Bermudians have been killed or wounded in shootings in the US. And there are probably hundreds of Bermudians or relatives of Bermudians living in the Washington area. One of them could be next.

As the US tries to mobilise countries around the world to fight terrorists abroad, it should get its own house in order.