Once again, a child in our community became the victim of a random shooting. This kind of violence is absolutely unacceptable.

Suffolk Police are trying desperately to locate those who are responsible for the shooting of three people in North Amityville this week, including an 8-year-old who was struck in the leg. Three weeks ago, four subjects were arrested for a shooting in Copiague, July 26. And inApril a 14-year -old North Amityville girl lost her life in a random shooting, dying in the arms of her older sister, as the two celebrated at a home party in North Amityville. A youth was arrested in that incident.

What accounts for this rise in violence? Police and law enforcement can point to a number of issues, including drugs and alcohol and the relative ease with which young people can procure weapons. It's time we work as a community to reduce these risks and to protect our children.

First, we need to isolate and reduce gang activity wherever it may be taking place. We need to track down and eliminate the proliferation of weapons and we need to impress upon our youngsters in a variety of ways that it is their responsibility to report anyone who may have an illegal firearm.

Establishing a safe community in which our children can grow without fear is the responsibility of the police working cooperatively with the citizenry. Maybe it's time to strengthen those ties and take back our neighborhoods.