The mother of Bermuda's last shooting victim believes the Government's gun amnesty will only work if it is immediately followed by stiffer sentences for firearms offences.

Marsha Jones, whose son Shaundae was blasted to death outside a West End nightclub six months ago, spoke out after Bermuda's first gun amnesty in nine years began at the weekend.

Despite teething problems over exactly how Police would administer the amnesty, and how weapons should be brought in, the opening three days saw two antique replica firearms, four knives, two forks, a machete and various ammunition surrendered.

“I hope this works, I really do,” Ms Jones told The Royal Gazette.

“But I think it will only work when they have harsher laws introduced at the end of it. Our laws have got to be tougher. We need to make people think twice about whether they want to risk having a gun or not.

“If people know that there are tough punishments ahead, then they are more likely to want to turn their weapons in.”

The 28-day gun amnesty began on Saturday in a direct response to last week's violence at White Hill Field, where a firearm was reported to have been brandished during scuffles.

Machetes and baseball bats, which are also included in the amnesty, were also wielded at the conclusion of the Elephant Man concert last Tuesday when Town and Country gangs clashed.

“Things are getting out of hand here,” continued Ms Jones.

“Bermuda isn't Bermuda any more. There are a lot of gang things going on, people fighting over turf. My son was warned not to go to Dockyard but he said ‘this is my home, why shouldn't I go?'

“Things have to change. We have to get serious with these people to put a stop to it. If things don't change, we are all going to be in deep trouble.

“People aren't going around hitting each other around the head with bricks, they are shooting them.”

Ms Jones added that she wanted to see guns off the streets so that “no mother has to go through what I am going through”.

The $5,000 reward for anyone with information on the whereabouts of key Jones' murder suspect Kenith Clifton Bulford, who was originally interviewed in connection with the shooting and then released on Police bail, remains in place.

Anyone with information should call Police on 295-0011.