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| Brazil launches anti-gun appeal | Brazil launches anti-gun appeal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Brazilian government is to launch a campaign as part of an effort to get 300,000 guns off the streets and to cut the country's high murder rate. | The Brazilian government is to launch a campaign as part of an effort to get 300,000 guns off the streets and to cut the country's high murder rate. |
| Anyone who hands over a firearm will receive between 100 and 300 reais ($60- $185) and will not be investigated if they were illegally holding the weapon. | |
| The campaign will be promoted by advertising on television, radio, newspapers and the internet. | |
| A similar move four years ago helped remove 500,000 guns from the streets. | A similar move four years ago helped remove 500,000 guns from the streets. |
| The Brazilian government is to spend more than $28m on this campaign. | The Brazilian government is to spend more than $28m on this campaign. |
| Officials from the justice ministry say they hope to get 300,000 weapons off the streets before the end of the year, and as a result help to cut Brazil's high murder rate. | Officials from the justice ministry say they hope to get 300,000 weapons off the streets before the end of the year, and as a result help to cut Brazil's high murder rate. |
| As well as receiving financial compensation, those who hand over weapons have been assured they will not be subject to a police investigation. | As well as receiving financial compensation, those who hand over weapons have been assured they will not be subject to a police investigation. |
| 'Culture of peace' | 'Culture of peace' |
| The authorities are also keen to encourage the registration of weapons that are held illegally. | The authorities are also keen to encourage the registration of weapons that are held illegally. |
| The police in Brazil believe that between 500,000 and a million handguns are unregistered, and from next January this will be punishable by a sentence of up to six years in jail. | The police in Brazil believe that between 500,000 and a million handguns are unregistered, and from next January this will be punishable by a sentence of up to six years in jail. |
| Justice Minister Tarso Genro says the government hopes the campaign will get people excited about taking part in what he called "a culture of peace". | Justice Minister Tarso Genro says the government hopes the campaign will get people excited about taking part in what he called "a culture of peace". |
| In a referendum held in 2005 Brazilians rejected a ban on gun sales and the level of violence in Latin America's largest country remains high, although there are some encouraging signs. | In a referendum held in 2005 Brazilians rejected a ban on gun sales and the level of violence in Latin America's largest country remains high, although there are some encouraging signs. |
| A government study found that gun related killings fell by 12% between 2003 and 2006, but this still involved a number of dead of more than 34,000 people in just one year. | A government study found that gun related killings fell by 12% between 2003 and 2006, but this still involved a number of dead of more than 34,000 people in just one year. |
| The government will at least be hoping the new campaign will encourage the downward trend. | The government will at least be hoping the new campaign will encourage the downward trend. |