A US missionary who brought a gun and ammunition into the Island undetected highlighted how easily firearm laws can be flouted, Deputy Speaker Randy Horton said last night.Egbert Haywood was attempting to leave the Island when a .32 calibre pistol, four rounds of ammunition and an extendable baton were discovered in his luggage last month.Even thought the courts ruled the 72-year-old had meant no malice, Mr Horton said the fact he got the weapon into Bermuda in the first place acts as a warning to those trying to crack down on gang violence.“I think it raises some very, very, very high concerns that this kind of thing can happen,” said the MP, who is the chairman of the parliamentary joint select committee on the causes of violent crime.“How many people may be bringing in guns like this in order to fuel gang violence in Bermuda?”Mr Haywood, from North Carolina, was given an absolute discharge in Magistrates’ Court last Friday, after claiming he’d brought the items into Bermuda by mistake.His lawyer explained he’d previously been working in a dangerous area of the States and was en route to a Christian mission in Chile.Mr Horton said he would have expected the weapons and ammunition to be discovered before he boarded his plane from the US to Bermuda.“Once he comes into Bermuda you would hope they would find it in a random bag check. But they can’t check everyone’s bag,” said Mr Horton.“So once you get it past the security in the States it can easily get into Bermuda. This case indicates that this certainly can happen. With all the gang violence we have in Bermuda, it’s a definite concern.”National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief has said Government is stepping up its efforts to keep drugs and guns out of the Island.Following a recommendation from Mr Horton’s cross-party group, a Department of Border Control has been set up to focus on the matter. The joint committee’s report into gang violence is expected to be debated today as MPs conclude the current parliamentary session.