A petition with more than 600 signatures calling for anti-gang legislation was handed to the Premier and members of her Cabinet yesterday.Around 50 concerned residents, led by community activist Scott Smith, presented the document signed by residents outraged by murder and violent crime in Bermuda.The demonstration at the Cabinet Building marked the second attempt to see the Premier, following a protest held on the steps of City Hall last Friday.Mr Smith thanked the Premier and Cabinet members and said: “We are here to just let you know that we have a lot on our hearts. The number one reason why we are here is because this young lady, Ryann. Today she is here because her father, Stefan Burgess, was gunned down and he was the first murder victim in Bermuda this year.”The family members of murder victims in attendance, included Stefan’s mother Andrea Burgess. Mr Burgess was gunned down on January 8, at a home on Glebe Road, in Pembroke.Also present was Kaywell Outerbridge, the mother of Malcolm Outerbridge. Mr Outerbridge was stabbed to death in October last year on Random Lane in Warwick. A 15-year-old has been formally charged in connection with his murder. A trial in Supreme Court is pending. Ms Outerbridge was wearing a button on her chest depicting her only son.Mr Scott spoke on their behalf and others who have experienced the trauma caused by murder. “I believe Bermuda is now at a very critical stage of its existence, and what we want to do now, as a people, is to make sure that we stand behind our Government, but make sure that our Government also stands behind us.He continued: “Stefan Burgess was affected and victimised by people whose hearts and minds have gone stone cold and have nothing but hatred to offer. We the people of Bermuda, stand here today, to send out a warning message to you our leaders, that we have come to the place where we will no longer stand over another grave site and accept that there is nothing that we can do.“Yes, we do understand that the Government cannot raise our children, so we must hold parents responsible. However, you and the police can help provide us with a safer environment for our children to grow up in.Mr Smith spoke out against the flow of drugs and guns onto the Island and a ‘deadly tide of evil’ affecting the community.Mr Smith urged the Government to do all it can, to bring about the changes needed. “If you expect for us to vote for you again you must hear us now or be voted out to give someone else a try. No this is not a political problem alone, this is a moral problem, and we know we cannot legislate morality,” he said.He also referred to Bermuda’s education system, and said: “It was changed by the previous government, which we the people said we do not want, and they did not listen to us, and now we’ve changed from a system that worked, to a broken public school system. What we have today is a broken system that needs to be put back the way it was as we bring back our technical school also. If this country is to prosper we must make changes now so we can have a country to leave to our children.”Premier Paula Cox said: “Government doesn’t adopt a helpless or do nothing approach. On every front, whether it’s on social policy, fiscal policy, national security policy, whether it’s purely even on law, we’re working diligently and we’re working with one voice to make sure we improve the situation so that mothers who are represented here today don’t have to go through this calamity and tragedy.“But it isn’t going to happen by government legislating. It means actually working hand in hand so that when you know of instances where people are profiting that you tell.“As your elected representative and as the Cabinet-Government, we know what’s important in terms of protecting our national interests and that goes to peace and security and also the economic viability. It brings no one any joy when you have to hear about how people are killing each other that hurts us all.“It’s not going to work by seeking to get headlines, not by seeking to be dramatic, but by getting the work done and getting the work done because it’s the right thing to do. So I appreciate you coming here, we appreciate you coming here.”Premier Cox, speaking of the calls for the outlawing of tinted helmet visors said a ‘listening Government’: “Looks, it takes a decision and says maybe we should revisit it. But I think the main thing to know is that these men and women care. They care because this is our country and I can assure you that you will be heard from and you will be responded to.”Mr Smith replied: “We’re here because we really are tired of seeing our children go in a hole. My cousin, Malcolm Outerbridge was buried, I don’t have to tell you about the pain. What I want to see is that we do pass legislation that would make sense to me.“We know you are working against a lot of opposition, but we need to have people that are in power for the people. We just want you to know that we are supporting you if you are supporting us and our cause.”