In the wake of shocking violence in the community, Senators yesterday called for families to come together in the spirit of the season.

Public Safety Minister Senator David Burch reiterated his statement at Senate on Wednesday that Christmas should be cancelled, specifying that he was referring to the drinking and partying associated with the season.

"It is vital that families and friends take the time to come together," he said. "In all of this hustle and bustle, we don't often make the effort to do that."

After a series of shootings rocked the Island, Sen. Burch said that he was afraid of hearing about more violence.

"I was reluctant to touch my Blackberry this morning, because I didn't want to hear bad news," he said. "I decided I wasn't going to listen to the 7 a.m. news because I didn't want to get the bad news delivered to me that way.

"I was both pleased and surprised that I didn't have messages from the Police or the community about another incident. We haven't had an incident in the past 24 hours, but I don't think that means it's over."

He called for families to come together for the holidays, saying: "Give drinking a vacation and give fun, family activities a chance.

"I believe that some of the things we used to do could still reach the imaginations of the new generation. If we are to survive the next 400 hours, much less the next 400 years, that is what is required. I'm calling for us to cancel the part of Christmas that will cause us grief."

Government Senator Thaao Dill also called for families to come together, saying the recent outbursts are a result of a culture of violence.

"You hear folks yelling for the right, for the moral authority to beat their children, but they never mention love," he said.

"You have people screaming about bringing back corporal punishment, but they don't talk about the sanctity of life.

"You have people talking about public whippings, treating people in a way we don't treat animals, never mentioning the value of people.

"How can we expect our young people to act in any other way? We are so very committed to a culture of violence, where a violent reaction is sociably acceptable."

He also criticised comments calling for prayer and physical punishment in the schools, saying: "They start the day with prayer, they have it in the middle of the day, they have it at the end of the day."

"I think people do it explicitly to avoid the blame of the problems they see.

"Does anybody really think that the young people in this were not involved in physical discipline? Really?

"Faith without action is dead, punishment without love kills."

Independent Senator Joan Dillas Wright called for parents to get more involved with their children.

"They have their children, and they ignore them," she said. "If you have a daughter, or a son, you need to make yourself known to them, take them under your wing. We all need to ask ourselves if we are enabling."

Government Senator Marc Bean cautioned the media to avoid cashing in on the violence. "This is not a game, this is not a chance to sell more newspapers," he said. "I am asking the media not to gas this up any more than it already is.

"You still have families that are grieving. Have a little more sensitivity."

He said that Bermuda had changed, and that much work needed to be done to bring the Island back together.

"The old Bermuda, the Bermuda is another world, the oasis on Earth, is dead," he said. "2009 killed it."

"If you think this doesn't affect you because you live in your gated communities, you better wake up and smell the coffee.

"We are reaping what we have sowed. Now we must take the opportunity to pull up the weeds and plant anew.

"The choice is ours. There are no more excuses."

Government Senator Walton Brown called for Bermuda to tackle the drug trade, which he estimates could be a $200 million industry.

"Who is buying $200 million of drugs? Who is buying it and who is supplying it? That is the economy of the gang activity.

"You cannot address the violence without focusing on that."

Opposition Senator Suzann Roberts Holshouser ended the discussion, saying: "I believe that Bermudians are a very compassionate people, a very giving people. We will come through this together, and not apart.

"I hope that when we return next year, we do so with a new slate."