In January, Brazil's new president, Jair Bolsonaro, made good on his campaign promise to facilitate the purchase of firearms in Brazil by signing a decree to loosen gun laws. The move is controversial in a country where murder rates rival those of some active war zones.
Before the decree, Brazilian civilians had to schedule an interview with a federal police officer to petition for the right to have a firearm. During the interview, they had to prove their need to have a gun in their home. The decree, however, has removed this step. It has also increased the term of gun licenses from five to ten years. Those with children or people with mental deficiency in their households need to declare that the firearm will be kept in a safe inside their home.
Bolsonaro's campaign was run on his promises to take a tough stance on crime, and his famous finger pistol gesture became a symbol among his supporters of a new era for Brazil. Since 2003, under Lula, Brazil's government has had broad restrictions on gun ownership. In fact, at one time a national amnesty was declared to encourage citizens to turn in their firearms so they could be destroyed. As violent crime has increased, many have begun to question whether gun ownership would help solve or worsen the problem.
2017 saw a record high murder rate of 30.8 homicides per 100,000 people (compared to 5.3 homicides per 100,000 in the U.S. and 25 per 100,000 in Mexico). Some believe that increased access to firearms will only serve as fuel for the country's already dangerous levels of violent crime. Others think guns will give citizens the means to defend themselves against increasingly powerful and violent gangs.
Though it may seem like the entire country is rushing to own firearms, a poll conducted in December revealed that 61 percent of the population believes civilians should be banned from owning firearms. But Brazil's president thinks otherwise. According to Bolsonaro, he signed the decree "so that...upstanding citizens can have peace inside their homes."
At the end of the day, what Brazilians want most is safety and security.
