Bermuda saw another life taken through violence this weekend when James Lawes, a 25-year-old barber who had been married for four months, was gunned down in an alley after being chased down a busy street. Two other men were wounded in the same incident.

Mr. Lawes was the second man to be murdered this year and the sixth since last May. In less than three months since January 1, there have been 38 gun incidents, compared to 92 in all of 2009. The numbers are a stark demonstration that gun crime continues to increase in Bermuda, and people continue to die. But they do not tell the story of the suffering of parents left without sons, wives and girlfriend left without partners and children left without fathers.

They do not tell the story of neighbourhoods where parents are afraid to let their children play in parks or on pavements, of whole areas of Bermuda where young people dare not go. They do not tell the story of a once peaceful Island that seems powerless to stop a descent into lawlessness.

And anyone who thinks that these tragedies will not affect them or their families should think again. Every family in Bermuda is or will be affected by this. And it will only take a community-wide effort to end it.

It was heartening in December to see people come together to form community groups to take back their homes, streets and neighbourhoods. It was heartening to see people of all congregations and faiths come together to speak for peace and tolerance.

It was heartening to see political leaders set aside their differences and make common cause to stop the violence. It is always difficult to maintain the momentum of these kinds of movements when the initial crisis seems to have passed. But if the crisis passed, the reality of violent crime has not. It is time for people to once again come together to speak out and act to stop the madness.

The unacceptable alternative is for the community to simply accept that this how life will now be in Bermuda; that every few days, weeks or months, a young person, usually black and male, will be wounded or killed.

This is simply unacceptable. It is not the responsibility of the Government, the Police or any other institution to say so, although they should. It is for all Bermudians, and all residents of Bermuda, to say that enough is enough and that we will not rest until we have stopped the bloodshed.

How can that be done? First, by setting an example of being law abiding and tolerant to others and making a commitment to raise the children of this community to be the same.

Second, by helping the Police to identify, arrest and prosecute those believed to be responsible for these crimes. Third, by pressing the powers that be to ensure that the Island's education system is producing graduates who can take their places in the workforce and fulfil their potential.

Fourth, by ensuring that opportunities in society are equal, and by ensuring that people understand their obligations.

Finally, this newspaper again urges consideration of a programme like the Ceasefire programme developed by American crime expert David Kennedy. The challenges that Bermuda faces may well be slightly different from those experienced in US towns and cities, but we should not flatter ourselves that they are unique. We need to adopt programmes that work.