Explaining Brazil #300: Gun debate becoming ubiquitous in Brazil’s Congress

When far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro rose to win Brazil’s presidential election in 2018, guns and violence were hallmarks of his campaign. He talked about gunning down his left-wing opponents, one of his big promises involved facilitating firearm permits for those who he called “upstanding citizens”, and he signed off all of his public events by giving his infamous finger-gun salutes.

Indeed, his government brought about a spate of decrees and rule-changes facilitating gun ownership and firearm purchases, but since his defeat this pro-gun push in Brazil has certainly not gone away.

Brazilian public security think tank Fogo Cruzado released a new study, showing that congressional debates around gun regulations are becoming more and more frequent in Brazil. The institute analyzed the records from more than seven decades, including legislatures since 1951. To discuss guns in Brazil, we’re joined by Maria Isabel Couto, Fogo Cruzado’s programs director.

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Background reading:

• A recent survey by Ipsos showed that Brazilians are growing more concerned about crime: 44 percent say urban violence is their top concern, up from 36 percent last year.

• The Fogo Cruzado study shows that the peak of gun discussions in Congress came between 2003 and 2006, when Brazil discussed and passed its Disarmament Statute. One of the act’s proposals, banning the sale of guns in all of Brazil, was rejected by 63 percent of Brazilians in a 2005 referendum. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was serving his first term at the time.

• The Bolsonaro government made it a lot easier for Brazilians — including members of organized crime groups — to get their hands on guns. The Lula administration, upon entering office, sought to toughen firearm regulations.

• In April, lawmakers sought to push through a bill that would make Brazil similar to the U.S., allowing individual states to make their own gun laws.

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The post Explaining Brazil #300: Gun debate becoming ubiquitous in Brazil’s Congress appeared first on The Brazilian Report.