President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during a public ceremony at which he signed a decree making it easier for Brazilians to own guns. (Photo: Bolsonaro/Instagram)
President Jair Bolsonaro signed a decree on Jan. 15, 2019, making it easier for many Brazilians to own firearms. Bolsonaro signed the decree in a televised ceremony. By taking decisive action within 15 days of being sworn into office, Bolsonaro gives a strong indication that he intends to follow through on his campaign promise of combatting Brazil’s violence problem by putting guns in the hands of the “good guys.”
“To guarantee the legitimate right of defense, as president I am using this weapon,” Bolsonaro said as he held up the pen he used to sign the decree. “I signed this decree, created by many upstanding people, so that at this first moment, upstanding citizens can have peace inside their homes,” Bolsonaro explained.
The decree eliminates the need for private citizens to provide the police with a good reason before they can own a firearm. Almost any citizen can now own a gun as long as they meet certain conditions. The conditions include being responsible for a commercial or industrial establishment, being a gun collector or hunter, living in a rural area, or living in a city with elevated crime rates. The decree does not allow people to carry a firearm in public, something that only security personnel, police and members of the military are allowed to do.
The decree includes a provision extending the registration renewal period from five years to ten, and requires that gun owners have a safe with a key if children, adolescents or a person with a mental disability live in the home.
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In addition, gun owners will have to meet other requirements such as being at least 25 years of age, not having a criminal record, taking a psychological exam, and taking a course at a gun club.
Brazil has been widely known as one of the murder capitals of the world. According to the Brazilian Forum on Public Security, a research organization, Brazil set a new murder record of 30.8 per 100,000 people in 2017. Compare that with the United States, where there were only 5.3 homicides per 100,000 people in 2017.
Some have criticized Bolsonaro’s decree. They argue that increasing gun ownership will increase the amount of violent crime in Brazil. History suggests otherwise.
In 2012, when Venezuela enacted a Disarmament Law which banned the private ownership of firearms, the country saw increased criminal activity and violence.
Bolsonaro’s decree became effective immediately.
The world, and the U.S., appear to be getting more and more dangerous. The recent shootings in Texas and Ohio are evidence of this. And yet all the politicians, who rub their hands together like witches over their boiling cauldron, seek more ways to make the lawful citizen who wants to protect him/herself defenseless. And the “media” disgusts me. The saturation coverage of the Texas shooting, in my opinion, led directly to the shooter in Ohio initiating his plan. Psychopaths who seek to “make their name” by injuring and killing innocent citizens should be sought out before they act. The politicians want to suspend or eliminate the Second Amendment. I suggest we suspend or eliminate the so-called “free speech” First Amendment. When these miscreants post their plans on the anti-social medium, demand the providers give all that individual’s information to law enforcement or face termination of their rights to use the free “airways”. Desperate times demand desperate measures.
I applaud the Brazilian President’s position in favor of allowing the individual to self-protect. Even with police response times being in a “few minutes” it only takes the perp seconds to act. I and all other true citizens of a free republic should be allowed to self defend in seconds as well.
In the USA we have this document called the constitution. Every elected official is required to take a oath to defend this Constitution.
The second amendment states that our right to keep and bare arms shall not be infringed.
So to my way of thinking, politicians who take that oath, and then violate that oath deserve to be kicked out of office and jailed, then tried for treason for attacking our Bill of Rights.
Trump take notice! Have Bolsonaro come across our southern border illegally and the Dems will have the wall built in one week.
It should be 18 years of age allows a person to purchase a firearm. But this is a huge step in the right direction for Brazil. Most countries are moving in the wrong direction for private firearm ownership.
The Czech Republic is the best place in Europe for private firearm ownership from what I read. Switzerland does not care about the right to self defense. Your private guns are for the national defense of Switzerland and not for private self defense. Use a gun in Switzerland in self defense and you will very likely end up in prison.
It should be whenever you can show responsible handling and capable operation of the firearm not your age. The 2nd doesn’t say the right of “adult people” just the right of the people.
Agreed, it is a step in the right direction for the people of Brazil.
It’s a step in the right direction but you really need concealed carry also.