It's no secret that guns have been around in Bermuda for many years. According to the Bermuda Police Service, from 2003 to the present, there have been 37 incidents of firearms offences.

But there have also been two gun-related murders on the Island during the past three years.

Jason Lightbourne, 18, was the last victim of a gun shooting, on July 23 last year. He was shot and killed while behind the wheel of a car on Ord Road, in Paget. To date his killers have never been brought to justice, two people were arrested in connection with the crime, but they were eventually released.

Police have poured many resources into the investigation, but claim to be road blocked by a lack of participation from potential witnesses.

Chief Inspector Tracey Adams said at the time: "We are significantly hindered from progressing as a result of information that is being withheld, despite our persistence to seek the truth." It's been speculated that Mr. Lightbourne's murder was gang related.

In another case, on April 27, 2003, college student Shaundae Jones, 20, was shot in the chest at point blank range in Dockyard. The motive behind his killing is unclear, but Mr. Jones was a witness in the murder trial of Tekle Zion Mallory and his best friend.

At the time of the shooting Mr. Jones and his friends had just left Club Malabar when someone rushed up to the car he was in and shot.

Mr. Jones' mother, Marsha Jones had stated previously: "I just can't see any more children die. "I feel like all of these children are mine, and I'm not talking about children from Warwick, Southampton or Somerset. I'm talking about everywhere."

In June this year, an American couple, staying at a guest property, was robbed and beaten by gun-touting masked men.

Police have since remained tight-lipped about that investigation. It is understood they were staying at an east end guesthouse, though Police refuse to say where exactly.

In the early hours of the morning, the thugs struck, threatening and beating the man and his wife before making off with cash, jewellery and a digital camera.

The husband suffered fractured ribs and his wife suffered bruising to her face. Both were treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and flew home later that day.

In a special report a year ago, this paper had reported the going rate for guns on the streets was around $3,000 in what was described a seller's market with owners more keen to rent them out than permanently lose valuable protection.

One well-placed source told The Royal Gazette: "Some people have guns and won't let them go but some who have them see it as a business. The guns usually come in with drug shipments. There are 101 different ways.

"People monitor, if they see a lot of Police activity at the Airport they use the ports, if they see a lot of activity on the docks they use the Airport.

"A lot of them use it for protection," the source added, "not necessarily to have gun fights. The thinking is if the other guy has got one, I want one."