The Home Secretary has said he is looking at ways of strengthening the law and introducing tougher sentences to tackle gun crime and gang culture across the country.
John Reid said the Metropolitan Police had begun a "concerted and focused" operation to target those responsible for the gun crime that has blighted south London in recent weeks.
Mr Reid was speaking following a meeting with south London MPs, senior police officers and local government representatives to discuss the "unprecedented" spate of shootings in the area that have seen three teenagers gunned down in less than a fortnight.
He said it was also up to individuals to shoulder their responsibility as parents and as members of society.
"There has been concerted and focused action by the Metropolitan Police which has already started to target and focus in an energetic way against the people who are involved in this," he said. "I have also asked my lawyers to look at ways of possibly strengthening legislation and, where appropriate, sentencing.
"We also need to make people face up to their responsibilities as parents and families and last but not least we need to empower local communities."
The meeting was held following Wednesday's shooting of Billy Cox in his own home and the deaths of James Andre Smartt-Ford and Michael Dosunmu both gunned down in south London in the past two weeks.
Among MPs who attended the meeting were Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey and Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood. Also present was the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick and Home Office Minister Tony McNulty.
Mr Reid said the majority of people living in those communities rejected the extreme violence of gang culture and wanted to live peaceful, law-abiding lives.
"The vast majority of people in these communities are absolutely appalled and affronted by violence of this nature and we want to work alongside them and make sure they in the local communities are given what resources are necessary in order to empower them and their fight against it."
