Public Invited: Parliamentary Meeting on Gun Violence
The meetings of the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Violent Crime and Gun Violence in Bermuda will be open to the public.
The terms of reference are “to inquire into the rise of violent crime and gun violence in Bermuda; to inquire into the causes of violent crime and gun violence in Bermuda and to report on the findings and make recommendations to Parliament.”
All meetings will be held in the Senate Chamber located in the Cabinet Building, 105 Front Street, Hamilton on the following dates: Thursday, November 24; Thursday, December 2; Thursday, December 9; and Thursday, December 16.
Those who wish to make oral submissions should contact Mrs. Carolyn Todd, Clerk to the Committee at the House of Assembly, Sessions House, 21 Parliament Street, Hamilton HM 12, or phone 292-7408 or email ctodd@gov.bm. Written submissions are also encouraged and should be sent to Mrs. Todd.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME…MEETING FOR WHAT?!?!?
YOU DON’T NEED A MEETING, JUST READ ALL THE REMARKS ON BERNEWS AND GET A FEELING OF HOW BERMUDDIANS ARE FED UP WITH…
1. OUR A$$ BACKWARD JUDICIAL SYSTEM
2. LACK OF CONSEQUENCE FOR CRIME
3. PROTECTION OF CRIMINALS
THE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON.
WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HOOFLAAH HOOFLAAH MEETING….GET REAL WILL YOU!
That pretty well says the main points though, with a PLP Government that is very soft on crime, I guess it can be said that we got what we asked for. If you are a mother with children from multiple men or if you are a man with no involment, in person or financially, with your children, then you are part of the problem. “It takes a village to raise a child” is pure bull. First & foremost it takes parents to raise a child.
Of course there are other reasons for the social mess Bermuda is in now. Years of easy living & affluence is another. Reality caused by poor Government fiscal management, especially during the Brown regime, has caught up with Bermuda.
With the same people in Cabinet don’t expect any changes any time soon.
It’s trick question time!! Why do we need, in November of 2010, after dozens have been either mugged/pistol whipped, shot at, wounded, or killed in the past 2 years, a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Violent Crime and Gun Violence in Bermuda? Answers?? My brains just fell on the floor, so if someone could help?
I guess that means you won’t show up? This is not a time to play party politics. If you really care , then go to the meeting with the same passion and make your voice heard. Don’t give up!
Just out of curiosity…what approach do Bernews fans/readers think would yield the best results in regards to decreasing gun violence at this point in time?
You can’t just blame the Govt and/or the Governor for this mess that we are in and we also can’t solely rely on these individuals to clear up this mess either…
I ask cause I am not too sure what the best route is at this point anymore.
I believe that we are able to prevent the next generation from emulating the current generation through early intervention and greater focus. While the Mirrors program is commendable it only seeks to reform youngsters who are already involved in anti-social behavior. Thus we need to get a hold of the 10 year olds of today and ensure them that the path of the current gunslingers is not a fruitful, rewarding or lasting one.
So what can we do as a people/community to convince these guys that what they are doing now is hurtful to not just their victims and themselves, but also to their families as well as ordinary, law abiding citizens of this island?
Any suggestions at all?
How about making the Westgate Best Western a little more like a prison? Put them to work. Anyone traveling US highways will have seen prisoners picking up trash along the roadsides. With bermudians’ general lack of respect of the enviroment there is enough trash on the road & in the bushes to keep prisoners busy. Put them to work in the recycling plant. Put them to work maintaining goverment property painting schools, cutting grass etc. There is plenty real work for them to do. Dress them in stylish Bermuda pink jumpsuits.
Laying around the prison rec room all day would no longer be an option.
The jobs lost by those doing this work now might help the huge debt amassed during the last few years.
Geee…I wonder what folks will be saying in their oral and written submissions?
How did guns enter into Bermuda in the first place? I have yet to read anything about that…if someone knows, please share.
As a prelude to yet another discussion on Bermuda’s social ills, we all should be saddened by yesterday’s lament by our new Attorney General about the impact “music, cable and TV” and what is needed to address the level violence and anti-social behaviour is a programme of “controlling the imagery”.
If that view forms the background, the results of this latest inquest can be predicted right now. Instead, how about these reasons:
We have a failing education system and have had for close at least 30 years – and this really means is failing educators – which we have pointedly refused to address. As a result Bermuda’s children lack the social and commercial skills to succeed.
From a commercial standpoint, Bermuda’s economy has reduced its need and desire for Bermudians in the work place. For proof look no further than the fact that the largest employer on the Island is the Government.
As a result people feel displaced in the only place that they can call home. This leads to anti-social behaviour. It is also worth noting that so long as the contained to distinct groups and areas – as it is – the Bermuda Police Service is relatively unpreturbed.
How about that for starters?
That is absolute nonsense.
The cops are out there putting their lives at risk chasing these guys, which are the minority by the way and yet you insinuate some bullsh*t conspiracy theory and essentially shifting the blame onto another group of people instead of the ones actually causing the issues and committing the crimes. No one made these guys act the fool the way they do these days, except themselves.
These guys CHOOSE to pick up the gun. The majority chose not to graduate high school with basic literacy skills and or marketable skills which would ensure them a decent job. They choose not to work certain jobs because they deem them to be below their standards by the simple virtue of being Bermudian. No one forced those decisions upon them. They chose themselves and now they are living the life they chose. The majority of these guys parents chose not to be parents, and without a strong family structure there is always opportunity for failure.
And as I said before if the cops starting camping out in these areas and harassed these “distinct groups” I bet you would be one of the first to run and cry racism from the rooftops and stating why aren’t they troubling Tuckers Town and/or Fairylands or any other place where white people live. There is no winning in this land when it comes to being a policeperson. Tell the cops that are involved (and I know a few) in trying to clean up this mess that they aren’t doing their jobs and that they are actually seeking to have these areas and “distinct groups” destroyed. Tell them they suck at their jobs despite the fact the Government is trying to screw them out of money owen to them despite an arbitration agreement being reached.
I am so tired of people always seeking to pass the buck/blame for individualistic choices on someone else. It is the cowards out. It is time for everyone to stop blaming the Government and/or Governor and any other group that you want to lay conspiracy theories against for the mess that we find ourselves in and stop relying on others to determine the solution.
Thanks Tired,
I really love they way Bermudians feel then need to turn any debate into some kind of vitriolic and personal attack. Mostly by superimposing a view or words or even the colour of my skin on top of what was actually said.
Rather than respond in kind, or indeed validate myself, let me instead ask you a question:
If its merely a matter of choice how do we get these people to “un-choose” their anti-social behaviour? Magic?
@US Observer… Guns have been on the island for a very long time … before my time and Im 24 … I have heard a lot of older folk (60-80 years old) say that they used to see car trunks full of guns! Bermuda has had guns for a while its just that there was never any need to use them. Men were men back then and still are many real men out there now .. But a lot of these guys these days are P****ies with guns in there hands.. Guns have been being smuggled to Bermuda since drugs have been smuggled.. So do the math…. Guns dont kill people.. people kill people..
How did guns enter into Bermuda in the first place? was a question asked.
For years while working at the airport, I observed private and corporate aircraft arrive and the owners were met by taxis which took their luggage which was bought straight from the aircraft without ever getting searched.
I saw that happen time and time again year in and year out. My thoughts were always ” that is how drugs get into Bermuda”
The passengers ‘may’ have being searched but not the luggage.
I am sure there are dozens of taxi drivers out there that will bear out my statement as ‘facts’.
Arthur Raynor… People who come in on private and corporate aircrafts 99% of the time would not take the risk of making a few dollars off of a little bit of guns and drugs…. think a little harder.. People who come in on private or corporate planes have millions!! they are not going to risk years in jail for a few hundred thousand dollars worth of drugs.. Thats like saying the queen might have drugs on her when she visits Bermuda.. Her luggage doesn’t get searched .. And I guarantee she is not trying to bring contraband into Bermuda. Drugs and guns have been brought into Bermuda through cruise ships, planes, and boats.. Cruise ships don’t get hassled too much and back in the 60s I don’t believe they had ex ray and the modern technology they do these days to catch people who are flying into Bermuda..
Exactly! Those people do not make their money by being stupid. It would take sheer stupidity to risk a career, family, lifestyle just to make a few $ smuggling drugs or guns into Bermuda.
Better to check some of those amongst us who have the privelege of not being searched for drugs & guns. I’d especially like to search those who don’t want to take a drug test.
Check all airport staff daily. How easy is it to call your mate on the ramp & tell them to puck up a package in the pocket of seat 27C? How easy is it to throw a package off an arriving ship at an arranged GPS location, to be picked up by a boat/jetski waiting nearby in the dark?
There are too many ways for guns/drugs to get in.
S. how do we know its not rich and poor bringing in the guns, you have to have money to bring these guns in to the island.Some of these rich criminals have the money to supply the guns, while the rich man purchases the guns,I bet, for alot of money, and keeping the rich criminal rich.
Customs seems only to stop and judge certain indviduals and give them a hard time for buying clothes for their family, whilst letting others go through without being searched. What is customs job, looking to penalise the person for putting the wrong duty or catching the drug and gun smuggler? What does the marine police do, with one boat, how many Police officers and Customs officers search the hundreds of yachts that come to Bermuda every year?
Corruption.
Oh sorry your Father passed away. Have nice day.
February 26th 2010. Arrive Bermuda. Two Imm/Officers on flight. Me first in line along with otyher family members. Imm Guys..same line waved through. Customs…pick up 4 large pieces of baggage. Me…right there. Imm guys go to Customs..9.8 seconds out of door…………….
Go Figure.
@ us observer and others : when i was in the bda regiment like over a decade ago inside the armory i looked in one day as the guy was putting in the security to open the doors and saw thousands and thousands of guns ,i mean hand guns ,semi automatics,rifles,glocks,machine guns,guns on the wall hanging by hundreds, its nothing new in bda guns have been coming to the island for decades,who knows maybe somebody stole a case of guns from the regiment, wasnt there a case years ago when someone reprted there house got broken into and there safe of many guns had been stolen or something,they had a permit i think.
just my thoughts on the subject.