It was a bizarre case when a young woman was brought to the hospital with a gunshot injury to her head by two men who disappeared after dropping the woman. Weeks later, the woman confessed to inflicting the injury on herself.

The police are not dropping the case because the weapon used was a handgun, an illegal firearm that is prohibited. What makes it more interesting is that the husband of the woman was arrested as the police searched for the Vailoa shooter.

The husband is charged with possession of narcotics believed to be methamphetamines. Four other people were arrested for the same offence on that day. What is happening? This is a reflection of how far the meth trade has dug its claws into the nation.

It is big money and therefore it is organised. Guns are becoming more common and it has to do with the meth trade. The guns are coming, in the same way, meth is coming in. There is now more evidence to suggest that the meth trade is more organised than previously thought.

The prevalence of guns also shows that gangs have formed and there is rivalry between the different factions. The warning signs are already there, and this could mean an increase in gun-related violence including drive-bys.

This is not just a police problem but a national issue. It is not just about an increase in violence. Meth addiction and rehabilitation will come at a cost for the government that could spin into millions.

The courts have recently stated that there needs to be another way of dealing with meth offenders as they cannot be just thrown into jail. Two things can happen. The first one is the expected outcome that they rehabilitate and the second one is that the users and dealers are being thrown into one spot allowing them an opportunity to create a better network and figuring out how they continue to ply their trade without getting caught.

The Australian Federal Police (A.F.P) Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan has said there has been a transition in the methamphetamine trafficking route with a greater influx coming from Mexico through transshipment points in the Pacific.

Mr. Ryan also hinted at the growth of gangs and organised crime syndicates being present in the region as he expressed concerns about the significant growth of methamphetamine in Samoa and other Pacific islands.

Along with meth, the issue of guns is something that needs urgent attention from our leaders. People are riding around in their vehicles with guns and some people keep guns in their homes.

The gun laws in this country are quite clear on how and where guns should be stored and what are the types of guns that can be brought into the country. The key issues here are border security and the ability to bring anything into the country.

There seems to be a large hole in the fence, so to speak, because the amount of methamphetamine being found in the country says there is one and through the same hole, illegal firearms are being brought into the country.

The increasing number of firearms in the country would bring in a need to provide more safety for law enforcement. This means the police would be armed. This is a dangerous precedent because armed police would mean that police could also draw fire if they feel they are being threatened.

The amendments in the gun law and modernising it to deal with the current problems would help but the thing that needs to be immediately done is to find out how these illegal products are coming into the country. There is a need for stronger control of the borders and customs.

Guns portray society as unsafe and one of having a high crime rate. That is something not needed especially when Samoa is being promoted as a tourist destination. People travel to places where they feel safe and with guns out in the open, this will not be able to happen.

There is an increase in meth in Samoa and there is a relationship between the drugs and the use of guns, especially when rival dealers or gangs are involved. That is happening in New Zealand. Police have already stated that gangs in New Zealand were looking to set up chapters in Samoa.

The last thing we need is a person walking into a bar or a school with a gun and opening fire.

As it is, one fight at a drinking party results in a series of fights among young men from different villages, what if these youths had access to guns?

There needs to be stricter gun laws and there is a definite need to reduce the number of firearms in the nation. Leaders at all levels need to face the fact that meth is no longer a small issue.