One of the major achievements of Bermudian society is the amount of violent crime relative to our neighbours. While violent crime does appear to be growing, little of it has to do with guns. We think that has been achieved by strict gun control.

A minimum of criminals with guns has also been encouraged by a basically unarmed Police Force. That Police Force would, of course, be endangered if guns become more prevalent in Bermuda. We have difficulty imagining Bermuda's Police with hip holsters bulging but that could be the reality if guns become accepted as inevitable.

There are, of course, guns in Bermuda. However because there appears to be no general move for people to arm themselves and since there is no assumption that people will be armed, there is relatively little use of firearms. It would seem to us to be very clear that arms breed more arms and that once firearms begin to be used, people respond by arming themselves and the very arming leads to the use of those arms.

It is clearly difficult to keep guns out of the Country simply because a visitor economy makes it virtually impossible to search all arrivals. In that sense guns are very similar to drugs. We know that in recent years there has been importation of illegal guns and Bermuda has to be very careful to eliminate guns as strictly as it can. We do not think Bermudians want any guns here.

We agree with Dr. David Saul when he told the House of Assembly, "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.'' Bermudians know that Bermuda has been mercifully free of the idea, "I'll shoot you and take what I want.'' It is not hard for us all to see what that kind of concept has led to in some areas of the United States. Every day we hear of wanton killings and of innocent people who die simply because they are caught in the cross-fire. It is especially sad when the innocents turn out to be children.

The huge amounts of cash involved in the illegal drug trade have led to unprecedented lawlessness and gun violence in the United States which should be a warning to any country. As the US grapples with its gun laws and fights to enact such legislation as the Brady Bill those countries where firearms are illegal are wise to do what they can to exclude guns from society.

As for those who have been in court recently for arriving in Bermuda with guns, we find it hard to believe that anyone can actually arrive in Bermuda with a gun given the security at US airports today. Anyone who travels knows the restrictions to prevent hijacking, and worse. It would also seem to us that any sensible person would be aware that you do not take international air flights with guns in your luggage. If you do that, then Bermuda does not want you here.