An Opposition MP last night called for gangs to be outlawed in Bermuda with the introduction of tough new legislation.

Shadow Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess said the Island needed to declare war on gangs after the shooting of a teenager in Paget in the early hours of yesterday.

He said: ?It?s the gangs versus the rest of us. It?s important the rest of us pull together and win. We have got to declare war on gangs and not allow them to declare war on us. We can?t have the gangs holding us to ransom. We have got to say that we will not tolerate gangs.?

Mr. Burgess said he wanted to see legislation brought in to make it a criminal offence to be a member of a gang. ?Make it so that if you are involved in a gang you are committing a crime. Punish for that and then punish for any violent activity. Outlaw gangs.

?If the Government is not prepared to do it, I will have a look and see what it takes to get it done. I?ll have to take it to the party caucus. I know we can?t keep saying it?s gang-related and doing nothing about it.?

Mr. Burgess said the shooting was the second in a matter of weeks and raised the prospect that gun crime was ?on the brink of becoming commonplace? on the Island.

?Can you keep calling it isolated if it happens two or three weeks apart?? he said. ?My deepest sympathies go out to his (the victim?s) family at this time. But the truth of the matter is the loss goes beyond just the family. We as a community are losing. As families lose their young sons, we are losing our sense of community.?

His party colleague Michael Dunkley said: ?The community is alarmed at the number and frequency of violent incidents occurring. It is important we all rally around to give the Police the support that they need.?

The Acting Opposition Leader said the Government needed to provide housing for Police officers coming from abroad as soon as possible to ensure the force come be brought up to full strength.

?It is disappointing it is taking so long to bring that housing requirement up to the levels needed.?