Public Safety Minister Col. David Burch is asking the public to stop "blowing up his inbox" after being bombarded by 700 e-mails suggesting ways to tackle the Island's gun problems.

According to Minister Burch Bermudians concerned about the rise in gun and gang violence have been sending him dozens of e-mails a day for the past several days "basically venting" with their thoughts and suggestions as to how to fight crime.

In a copy of one of the e-mails given to The Royal Gazette by Minister Burch the closing line says: "If you agree with my thoughts please send this e-mail on to everyone on your address book and Col. David Burch, Minister with responsibility for Police". The letter contains suggestions like hiring retired Police to patrol communities and schools and bringing in overseas gang experts.

"My e-mail Inbox for the month of March has, as of this morning, amassed over 700 e-mails from people basically venting," said Minister Burch at a meeting of the Senate yesterday. "If you ask anyone who knows me they will tell you that this sort of thing drives me to despair.

"The first e-mail came on Friday anonymously and I responded saying 'I wont read it and I am not going to respond to anonymous letters'. Well they invited everyone they know to also e-mail me to tell us what we should be doing.

"I have to say that if you really want to do something to help, bombarding a Minister's inbox is not going to because all I am going to do is put them in the garbage. But what I will continue to do is work with the Governor who has responsibility for the Police and the Bermuda Police Service to address the challenges that we face. Some of the e-mails want to know about operational policing and I refuse to touch on that other than to say that I support the commissioner in not telling you all what they do. It wont help and they won't be able to do it for much longer if it becomes public knowledge – we must get on with the job.

And from where I sit and where this Government sits, we have complete confidence in the Bermuda Police Service to address this problem. We stand squarely behind them wand will take whatever steps are withing our authority to support them in their efforts."

The Minister went on to say that individuals should be thinking of ways in which that can make a difference rather than focusing their energy on him.

"Don't lecture me, don't write to me, ask yourself 'what can I do as an individual who loves Bermuda rather than blow up the Minister's inbox'?

"We are going to have success with this if we are able to acknowledge that we are all in this boat together and we all must pull our weight together. As long as I have this responsibility I will do everything in my power to carry it out to the best of my ability. I ask the rest of the people in this country to join me in that quest.

In related news a 30-year-old Smith's Parish man who was taken into Police custody in connection with the Friday March 19 triple shooting on Dundonald street has been released on Police Bail. Jamaican national James Lawes died after succumbing to injuries sustained during the shooting while two other men Robin Stovell and Maurice Martin received gunshot wounds but have since been release from hospital.