Column: MP King On Violence Reduction & More
[Opinion column written by MP Robert King]
As Shadow Minister for National Security, I am deeply troubled by the continued rise in gun violence across our island. Just this week, we received two more reports of firearm-related incidents.
On Sunday, police received a report that a man had brandished a firearm during a dispute with a woman at Spanish Point.
Just three days later, officers responded to a confirmed shooting outside a home in the St. Mary’s Road, Warwick area, where a lone gunman fled the scene on a motorcycle.
In May, we were devastated by the loss of Jasmine Smith and Shaquan Williams, two more lives taken by gun violence.
In April, there were reports of gunfire at a residence in Hamilton Parish. In February, a confirmed shooting occurred in Devon Springs Road, Devonshire.
What we are witnessing in Bermuda this year is not just an uptick in violence — it is a dangerous and sustained trend. From Sandys to Spanish Point, and from Devonshire to Court Street, firearms are being discharged with alarming frequency—often in broad daylight and in residential areas.
This is not just crime. This is inflicting trauma that is repeated and widespread.
In January 2025, the Minister of National Security outlined initial steps in implementing the National Violence Reduction Strategy, which the One Bermuda Alliance supported in principle. But progress on paper must be matched by measurable impact on the ground.
When lives are still being lost and communities continue to live in fear, we must ask:
How many of the young men most at risk of violence have been directly reached by these programmes?
Has inter-ministerial coordination actually produced faster, more effective interventions?
And critically, where is Bermuda’s firearms interdiction strategy? Are we gathering intelligence effectively enough to disrupt the next planned attack before it happens?
Let me be clear – this is not a time for complacency — it is a time for results.
That is why I call on the Government to publicly release quarterly updates on the Strategy’s implementation as transparency builds trust. Implement a focused deterrence model to confront the small number of individuals driving gun violence.
The Gang Violence Reduction Task Force needs to expand community-based outreach, including the deployment of violence interrupters to mediate conflicts before guns are drawn. Scale up trauma support services for young people caught in cycles of violence. Coordinate with police, customs, and international partners to cut off the illegal flow of firearms into Bermuda.
Bermuda is a small, close-knit country. We have the power to turn this around—but it will take more than goodwill and announcements. It will take action, urgency, and accountability.
As the Opposition, we will continue to support what works and press where more is needed.
To the people of Bermuda: I hear your concerns. We will not be silent. Your safety, your future, and your peace matter. And we will continue to demand that this Government responds — not with delay and more talk, but with decisive leadership and action.
- Robert King, MP, Shadow National Security Minister
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