National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief told gang members ‘badness is outta style’ as he called for a peaceful Christmas.Borrowing the phrase currently popular with anti-violence groups in the Caribbean, Mr Perinchief said gangsters need to show a sense of morality amid fears of another escalation of gun crime.“I watch Tempo on the Caribbean network. They say ‘badness is outta style’ in the Caribbean, and it’s been out of style a long time,” the Minister told The Royal Gazette.“I would like to say ‘badness is outta style’ in Bermuda. Peace and health and good will to all mankind should be the mantra that we live by over this Christmas season. It sounds corny, but it’s basic.“I’m a traditionalist. I do believe that the best of people comes out during the Christmas season and New Year.“No matter whether it’s denominational religious, spiritual or otherwise, it’s a season for people to put aside their differences.“With the situation of our young men who are locked in gang warfare, I want to appeal to them to show a sense of self-discipline, a respect to themselves and their peers, to their families and most of all the community at large.“Every individual has a code of conduct and ethics, and a sense of morality in what’s right and wrong, that’s built into your values system.“I’m appealing to the individuals’ values system, their sense of responsibility, to put aside the mob and gang mentality that says you are driven to do certain things that will go against your own personal morals. I’m asking them to rise above the gang culture and act responsibly, with individuality.”A 38-year-old man was injured in a shooting in Southampton on Wednesday evening, with a 26-year-old Pembroke man and 22-year-old Paget man arrested in connection with the incident.On Saturday last week, a man suffered serious injuries when he was shot outside Gravity nightclub in Devonshire. Sixteen men have been shot dead since May 2009.The recent incidents have sparked fears of more gang attacks over Christmas, with Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva saying in a statement yesterday: “In light of the recent shootings and other gun crimes, there is a risk that community fears may rise over the potential for violence this holiday.“However, the Bermuda Police Service has an increased number of officers on patrol. Those officers are well trained and equipped and I am satisfied that they will continue to meet these challenges and work with the community to make Bermuda safer.”Police will use their powers to stop and search over the festive season, warned Mr DeSilva.Governor Sir Richard Gozney reflected on Bermuda’s evolving attitude to gang violence in his four years on the Island.“I join Bermudians and you in wishing and calling for peace this Christmas, after the recent shootings,” said Sir Richard.“Part of our introduction to Bermuda was the pair of ghastly shootings, including a murder by shooting, at Christmas 2007, a fortnight after we arrived.“And we all remember the shootings in May 2009, and then a horrendous December 2009 which saw five shootings including three murders by shooting.”The Governor noted a ‘change in the background’ since then.“There is now, I think, a more widespread feeling and acceptance that all manner of actions are needed across the community in order to tackle the underlying causes,” he said.“The police have been quite successful in their investigations and have enabled the prosecutors and some brave juries to convict in 17 trials during the last two years but there is also, I detect, a broader acceptance that the police can only tackle and curb the symptoms, that is the shootings themselves, and not those underlying causes.“As for the range of action in hand, I wish the Government and the all-important community groups every success with their new legislation, their Inter-Agency Gang Task Force, their operations based on the success of Ceasefire, Street Safe and Night Life elsewhere, and the myriad of initiatives underway by concerned groups of public spirited individuals across the Island.“The scourge of shootings can be defeated, as it has been elsewhere, and I judge that Bermuda is now in a rather better position to do so than when the present spate of shootings began in 2009.”Mr Perinchief described the service’s approach as an iron fist in a velvet glove.“Depending on their behaviour, the police will respond appropriately. We do have the ability and capability of cracking down on unlawful behaviour,” said the Minister.And he said some of the gangs’ code of conduct has extra repercussions on their members at this time of year.“There are situations where because of the protection of territory and the territorial warfare that’s going on, young men can’t travel from one parish to the next to visit their next of kin, their immediate family, and simply to share good will during this festive season,” he said.“They are restricting each other because of some code of conduct over territory, which is preventing them from just freeing up and enjoying the season.”Police investigating Wednesday’s shooting would like to speak to anyone who saw two men on foot in the East Avenue/Sunnyside Park/West Avenue/Horseshoe Road areas of Southampton between 6.45pm and 7.10pm.They were dressed in hooded sweat tops and one may have had an exposed shirt underneath.Both suspects were black and skinny. One was 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in, the other was 5ft 8in to 6ft 2in.