Bermuda, an Opposition MP said on Friday.

Shadow Human Affairs Minister Ms Renee Webb was reacting to Wednesday's arrest at the Civil Air Terminal of American boxer Mr. Roy Jones, Jr., and the recent arrest of an American businessman.

Mr. Jones, the International Boxing Federation middleweight champion, was arrested and bailed for allegedly trying to bring a handgun and ammunition onto the Island.

In early May, American businessman David Shagirian was "horrified'' at his arrest and $2,000 fine for importing a firearm.

"I don't think it's the message that we want to be sending to people,'' Ms Webb said in the House of Assembly during the Motion to Adjourn. "It seems to me rather heavy-handed ... to pick up tourists who have come onto our Island with firearms.'' Instead of arresting such visitors, sending them to court, and fining them, Bermuda should be "more compassionate,'' Ms Webb said.

Mr. Jones "wasn't breaking any of his own laws.'' Many American visitors had permits and carried guns at home, she said. If they knew Ber muda's laws, "they would not arrive here with the firearms on them.'' Why could guns not be confiscated at the Airport and returned to visitors when they left? There might even be a way of securing them on the aeroplanes on which the visitors arrived, she said.

Ms Webb's comments, which drew shocked stares from her own Opposition benches, also drew criticism from Government Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul.

"Smuggling is a serious offence, and indeed firearms are a prohibited item in Bermuda,'' Dr. Saul told the House.

"Anyone who brings firearms into Bermuda, whether they are a visitor or a Bermudian, is committing an offence which I think the people of Bermuda, not to mention the Government of Bermuda, takes great offence at,'' he said.

Ms Webb was suggesting Government be more "lenient,'' he said.

"We should not and will not be.'' Dr. Saul did promise to explore placing more and larger signs at the Airport warning visitors about the Island's gun laws. "There is a fairly large sign -- maybe not large enough,'' he said.

Anyone inadvertently carrying a firearm should surrender it "before they are put through the embarrassment of arrest.''