Premier Ewart Brown yesterday told Bermuda's MPs they don't have the expertise to solve the Island's spiralling gun problems.

Dr. Brown was reacting to backbencher Randy Horton's suggestion that politicians from all sides should get together to pool ideas on tackling gang violence, following the fatal shooting of James (Junior) Lawes on Friday night.

"I have no doubt some fruit would be borne," the Premier told the House of Assembly, "but to be brutally honest the expertise to eradicate these concerns from Bermuda does not exist in this House."

The Premier, who said he was not showing any disrespect towards any recommendations for committees, called for an unemotional approach to what he described as an emotive issue.

He vowed to adopt the same cool-headed approach he was trained to take as a doctor dealing with a sick patient in a restaurant.

Dr. Brown did not specify what action is in the pipeline, but told the House: "We are tired of saying the same things. We are tired of walking around with candles when it seems to have no direct effect on the perpetrator.

"The promise is this: that this Government will take the necessary steps to respond appropriately to this situation, which is depriving us of young lives in this Country."

Earlier in yesterday's Motion to Adjourn, Mr. Horton had repeated his call for a bipartisan committee on gang violence which he said could provide additional support to Public Safety Minister David Burch and Police.

"Let's all get together, put our heads together, take off our jackets, get a little dirty maybe, and bring some change in this Country," he told the House.

The former Home Affairs Minister said: "There's what I would call in this Country an incredible blur between what is right and wrong.

"Our parents have to get a grip of their children from a young age. Parents, I'm asking you to get a hold of your children; put rules on them, keep them in.

"They won't love you, they will hate you. But at least they will go on and live a productive life.

"Please people, stand up, say who you saw, give the Police assistance to bring these men before the courts in order that we can see justice prevail in this Country.

"We need to implode guns and violence in this Country. In order to implode guns and violence, those that sit here — all of us — need to play a part.

"People are looking at us and saying, 'What are you going to do?' I'm going to recommend that in this House we set up a bipartisan select committee, to look and collectively have an eye on gang violence in this Country."