National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief has pledged to throw the full weight of the Police Service behind efforts to rid the Island of the gun violence that claimed the life of Jason Smith this weekend.He told a press conference today that assistance may be sought from overseas, with funding for such a proposal available in the budget.And he said that the input of guidance counsellors and teachers would be sought in an effort to identify persons at risk for such activity, early on.Cabinet is to discuss legislation in support of various policing initiatives as early as tomorrow, the Minister added.He said: “In the wake of another violent and senseless killing, the public clamour for strong action on the part of the police is not unreasonable and not unexpected. Safety can be achieved in many ways and in the short-term, strong enforcement can achieve that. I have discussed just such methods with [Police] Commissioner [Michael DeSilva] and his senior command at length. They have assured me, and I in turn confidently assure the people of Bermuda, that the Bermuda Police Service will meet the challenge posed by this trend of violent behaviour.”Mr Perinchief reiterated an earlier stated plan to put legislation before the House of Assembly as soon as possible which would:l make membership in a gang a criminal offence;l deal harshly with those who recruit young people into gangs;l introduce methods to permit the prosecutorial apparatus to effectively secure intelligence and evidence from detained persons;l revamp proceeds of crime legislation to permit the seizure of ill-gotten gains without the need for a criminal conviction, andl the consideration of appropriate sentences for these new offences and those already existing on our books.“At every turn this Government will stand shoulder to shoulder with the police, equipping them with the tools to deal effectively with the issues that threaten to undo the success story that is Bermuda. Budgets are not limitless. However, with the Commissioner of Police, I am confident that we can deliver a service demanded by the community prudently and in keeping with the economic realities of Bermuda today. Significant funds are available in this year’s budget for the engagement of overseas assistance and the Commissioner has the Government’s full support in determining how best to allocate those resources. Already, I can advise that the Ministry of National Security has agreed an expedited process with the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Finance for these kinds of engagements.”Mr Perinchief continued: “Enforcement addresses the manifested symptoms; the wider issues are to be resolved by bodies such as the task force who bring to bear their considerable knowledge and real-time, daily experiences with the people who live the gang culture on a daily basis. Included in this number are teachers and guidance counselors at every level. These caring professionals are in positions to spot early signs of exposure to these negative influences, and we must take their observations to heart and more importantly, act upon them. Early assessment and equally early interventions must become a feature of how we address these issues at the front end. A society that relies on enforcement alone to manage such problems is not fully engaged in meeting its issues head-on. We can and must be different in resolving these societal problems.”He and Mr DeSilva are to host a public meeting to better hear the concerns and suggestions of residents, Mr Perinchief said.The meeting will be held Thursday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Robert’s Avenue in Devonshire, starting at 6.30pm.“Two loving parents and a Bermudian family, as well as lifelong friends, awoke this morning to a void that can never be filled,” he said of Mr Smith’s shooting death early Sunday morning.“They are not alone in their sorrow. Other mothers and fathers are confused and dazed by the tragedy of loss. If nothing else unites us, this tragedy must! Spare a moment for these families. Consider their grief and in so doing; commit to doing your part to end this cycle of senseless, wanton loss of life. Our strength is in our unity of purpose.”