The Island needs to hold a national day of mourning and prayer to help the community heal from the effects of gun violence.That is according to community activist Gina Spence and such a day must be led by the Premier and supported by church, corporate and community leaders.Speaking to the joint select committe on violence and gun crime this morning, Ms Spence said the national day would "acknowledge the tragedy that has taken place and how we all were impacted by it, but never took the time to grieve, pray and heal together".She said this would show our common humanity as the Island is seeing unprecedented levels of violence and people need healing."If our Island is going to really heal it must start with the leaders of our country for no one is exempt."It is becoming more and more evident as we see children from family members of our faith community, government and civic leaders facing the same challenges as those whom the general public deems as a menace to society."Ms Spence proposed several solutions including encouraging more leaders to take time to meet with affected families and talk with victims.She also said an emergency response team should be set up for families to counsel and walk them through the greiving process.Ms Spence, whose son-in-law was shot and killed almost a year ago, was speaking on behalf of every family who lost someone to gun violence in Bermuda.She said families needed counselling support, including clergy, legal representation and police, during and after their loved one has died.Meanwhile, according to youth mentor Scott Smith, the Island has allowed Hollywood to raise its children and "kicked God out of our homes".This lack of spiritual guidance is at the root of the gun and gang violence problem, he told the committee.Mr Scott, who volunteers at the co-educational and Westgate Correctional Facility each week, said people started worshipping money and possessions rather than God."We have kicked God out of our homes, schools and I hate to say even our churches."Now we have taken away Almighty God and put in His place what some call the Almighty dollar. This is our dilemma."This is our plight - looking for sun, but all we see is night."Mr Scott, a member of the Pembroke Seventh Day Adventist Church, said the solutions to the Island's gang problems were simple.He said people had to get back to the basics and teach spiritual guidance and morals to children.