It was the second fatal shooting of the year 26-year-old James Lawes died early on Sunday as a result of injuries when he and two other men were gunned down on Friday night in Hamilton.

He was shot outside his apartment building in Hamilton on Friday along with 26-year-old Jamaican Maurice Martin, who lived in a nearby apartment, and 49-year-old Bermudian Robin Stovell.

A pillion passenger on a bike fired 11 bullets at the group of men who were talking in an alley near Place's Place, on Dundonald Street, shortly before 11 p.m.

Yesterday readers shared their feelings on the shootings in a discussion on The Royal Gazette's Facebook page.

Antonio Giuseppe Belvedere, a member of community group Rise Above, said: "I think that the system, Police and Customs, need to sit down and come up with a better game plan. It's obvious what they are doing is not working, guns are still entering the Island via plane and via boat, people are not serious about the jobs they are given they need to step up or step down.

"This Island is only gonna get worse, which is sad to say if this little 21-square-mile Island can't do anything about gun crime, no where in the world can."

Omar James said the community needed to do more: "If we can't catch someone that commits a shooting five minutes away from Police headquarters in the middle of Hamilton, I don't know what hope we have of fixing this problem. It just points out so many issues within our 'no snitching' community and inadequate justice system."

And Tracey Bean agreed with him, saying: "Until the people who have knowledge of the perpetrators and their actions give the Police the information they need to get these criminals off the streets, these crimes will continue. We as a community have this bad habit of complaining about problems, but we never want to step forward and become part of the solutions."

Angela Robinson said she feared things could get worse if Bermuda's laws were not updated.

"There is no way to stop the violence but to control it and keep it from affecting more and more citizens of Bermuda. The justice system needs to be updated if necessary to make sure that punishments fit the crime. Citizens need to be empowered to report criminal activity and not feel intimidated by threats."

Robert Davies said he agreed with Government MP Wayne Perinchief that a gun court was needed.

And Michael Gruver believed the young men perpetuating these crimes needed to be rehabilitated into society. "These youth are caught up in this pretend "Thug culture". They need to be identified, educated, and employed. Everyone needs to go to work. Not working, or enlisting in the underground culture needs to not be an option."

l If you would like to take part in community discussions become a Facebook fan of The Royal Gazette at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Royal-Gazette/249363077854.