A gun amnesty is under "active consideration" by Police and Government, Sir Richard Gozney revealed yesterday after a meeting with the Premier.

The Governor confirmed that the idea of allowing people to hand over weapons without facing charges was on the table — but he warned that it may not prove a panacea for dealing with what he described as Bermuda's "growing gun crime".

His comments come just days after the weekend shooting of Richard Gaglio in his own home in Smith's after a poker game.

Mr. Gaglio's two assailants are still being hunted by Police and he remained in a critical but stable condition at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital last night.

His twin brother Raymond Gaglio told The Royal Gazette he believed a gun amnesty would be pointless [see separate story]. "We need something far more drastic than that," he said.

Sir Richard told this newspaper: "The Premier and one or two other Ministers, and the Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, and the Deputy Governor and I met earlier on September 10.

"Other participants can of course speak for themselves but my impression is that all of us, the Premier and his colleagues, the Police leadership and Government House share an abhorrence of Bermuda's growing gun crime.

"Bermuda's level of gun crime may have been low historically but the recent growth in gun crime is a serious concern for all of us."

The Governor added: "An early gun amnesty is under active consideration. Any announcement would likely be made by the Acting Minister of Home Affairs and/or the Police Commissioner. A gun amnesty can be of some use, but it is not a panacea, in any jurisdiction."

Sir Richard said all were agreed that the Island should make the most of other countries' expertise in tackling gun crime.

"For Bermuda this includes the experience of tackling the crime of possession of a gun," he said. "So we shall look at how we might use overseas Police experience, wherever we can find it, which can help the Bermuda Police Service combat this threat to the Island."

The Governor also met yesterday with Opposition leader Kim Swan and deputy leader Trevor Moniz to discuss crime.

Mr. Swan said last night: "We are encouraged a gun amnesty is under active consideration. We are also encouraged the Premier met the Governor today, despite his well-publicised resistance to such meetings. It is a sign that good sense is finally prevailing on this most vital issue."

The UBP leader added: "We impressed upon the Governor the extreme seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate and wide-ranging action to address the continuing escalation of violent crime, especially with guns.

"There seems to be an absence of political will to deal with the issues on a focused and ongoing basis and we made clear the need for decisive, effective action.

"The community wants assurance the Police and the Government are committed to doing what is necessary to make our streets and homes safe again."

Premier Ewart Brown's press secretary said: "The Premier did attend a meeting with the Governor today at Government House. Gun crime was discussed."

He said Dr. Brown had spoken to the broadcast media on the topic and did not plan to say anything further last night. The Premier said earlier in the week that he planned to raise the issue of a gun amnesty with Sir Richard.

"I think it has the potential to be effective in making our community safer," he said.

• Anyone with information about the shooting of Mr. Gaglio should call the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8106 or CrimeStoppers confidentially on 1-800-8477.

Gaglio's brother calls for tagging of violent criminals

The twin brother of shooting victim Richard Gaglio is calling for all convicted violent criminals to be tagged upon their release from prison.

Raymond Gaglio said last night he believed a "GPS system" tracking the movements of convicts would make them think twice before offending again and would be a valuable tool for Police.

Mr. Gaglio, 62, whose brother was gunned down in his Smith's home after a poker game in the early hours of Sunday and remains in a critical condition in hospital, told The Royal Gazette: "With GPS, as soon as a crime was committed the Police would be able to track down anyone in the area who had been tagged and question them.

"It would make some of our youth realise they aren't going to get away with what they're getting away with now. People are afraid to stay in their own homes. It [crime] has never been as bad as it is now."

Mr. Gaglio said he believed a tagging system would be far more effective than the gun amnesty currently being considered by Police and Government.

"What good is that going to do?" he asked. "Who's going to turn their guns in? They'd rather throw them into the sea. We need something far more drastic than that."

Mr. Gaglio said he and a group of other poker players were planning to meet next Tuesday and he hoped they would support his idea to clamp down on the continuing violence.

"I'm hoping we can come up with some ideas," he said. "I think everybody in this Island has just had enough. Ever since Richard was shot people have been calling me, telling me that something has to be done."

Mr. Gaglio said he sent his tagging suggestion to Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley, who called for a gun amnesty earlier this week, and was waiting to hear back.

Richard Gaglio was shot at close range in the chest after two gunmen burst into his home in Hinson Lane at about 1.30 a.m. on Sunday.

He was due to be airlifted off the Island to Baltimore yesterday but was still at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital late last night because a bed reserved for him at Johns Hopkins Hospital was needed for an emergency.

Raymond said his twin was continuing to improve each day and now had more movement in his arms and legs.

"We're still hoping to fly out Richard tonight (Thursday), if not tomorrow," he said. "Richard's wife has already travelled ahead to Johns Hopkins.

"Today, I went into the hospital and I was told not to speak to Richard and he's not allowed to speak. So the three of us — myself, Richard and the nurse — were all there saying nothing.

"In the end, I gave in and said to Richard: 'Can you hear me?' and he nodded his head and lifted his eyes. I held his hand and there was more movement in his arms and legs, much more than he had before. He's one tough son of a b****! If anybody can get through this, it's Richard."

A KEMH spokeswoman said Mr. Gaglio remained in a critical but stable condition.