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Brazil gun laws: Bolsonaro vows to loosen ownership rules | Brazil gun laws: Bolsonaro vows to loosen ownership rules |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Brazil's incoming far-right president has said he will seek to issue a decree loosening the country's gun laws. | Brazil's incoming far-right president has said he will seek to issue a decree loosening the country's gun laws. |
Jair Bolsonaro, who takes over on 1 January, had made the pledge a key part of his presidential campaign. | Jair Bolsonaro, who takes over on 1 January, had made the pledge a key part of his presidential campaign. |
Brazil currently has strict gun ownership laws, requiring any prospective owners to undergo psychological tests. | Brazil currently has strict gun ownership laws, requiring any prospective owners to undergo psychological tests. |
But Mr Bolsonaro has said more guns would allow "good people" in Brazil help combat violent crime. | But Mr Bolsonaro has said more guns would allow "good people" in Brazil help combat violent crime. |
What are Brazil's current gun laws? | What are Brazil's current gun laws? |
In response to Brazil having one of the world's highest murder rates, the Senate passed the Disarmament Statute in 2003. | |
Under the statute, which stands to this day: | Under the statute, which stands to this day: |
In the first year after the statue was introduced, the murder rate in Brazil dropped by 8%. In the same time, about 500,000 guns were seized by police under a buy-back scheme. | In the first year after the statue was introduced, the murder rate in Brazil dropped by 8%. In the same time, about 500,000 guns were seized by police under a buy-back scheme. |
How bad is the murder rate in Brazil? | How bad is the murder rate in Brazil? |
Since that drop, murder rates have started to climb again. | Since that drop, murder rates have started to climb again. |
According to the World Bank, Brazil has the eighth highest murder rate in the world, behind countries such as El Salvador and Jamaica. | According to the World Bank, Brazil has the eighth highest murder rate in the world, behind countries such as El Salvador and Jamaica. |
The Brazilian Public Security Forum, which collects and analyses crime data from state and federal government, there were 63,880 homicides in Brazil last year (equivalent to 175 a day) - an increase of 2.9% on the previous year. | The Brazilian Public Security Forum, which collects and analyses crime data from state and federal government, there were 63,880 homicides in Brazil last year (equivalent to 175 a day) - an increase of 2.9% on the previous year. |
A number of factors have been identified, including Brazil's role as a hub in the international cocaine trade, and dwindling police resources. | A number of factors have been identified, including Brazil's role as a hub in the international cocaine trade, and dwindling police resources. |
Impoverished parts of north-east Brazil in particular has seen a large increase in recent years. Over the past decade the murder rate in Rio Grande do Norte state has soared by more than 250%, according to the government-affiliated IPEA research body. | Impoverished parts of north-east Brazil in particular has seen a large increase in recent years. Over the past decade the murder rate in Rio Grande do Norte state has soared by more than 250%, according to the government-affiliated IPEA research body. |
Between 2016 and 2017, there was also a significant jump in the number of people killed by police in Brazil - up 20% to 5,144. | Between 2016 and 2017, there was also a significant jump in the number of people killed by police in Brazil - up 20% to 5,144. |
What has Bolsonaro promised? | What has Bolsonaro promised? |
Security became one of the key themes of the presidential campaign, which Mr Bolsonaro won in October with 55.2% of the vote. | Security became one of the key themes of the presidential campaign, which Mr Bolsonaro won in October with 55.2% of the vote. |
During his campaign, he would often make the case for more people owning guns, adding that gangs had continued to obtain guns despite strict legislation. | During his campaign, he would often make the case for more people owning guns, adding that gangs had continued to obtain guns despite strict legislation. |
"Every honest citizen, man or woman, if they want to have a weapon in their homes - depending on certain criteria - should be able to have one," he said. | "Every honest citizen, man or woman, if they want to have a weapon in their homes - depending on certain criteria - should be able to have one," he said. |
Mr Bolsonaro, a former paratrooper, is an avid supporter of America's National Rifle Association, and the door of his campaign office was emblazoned with the slogan: "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." | Mr Bolsonaro, a former paratrooper, is an avid supporter of America's National Rifle Association, and the door of his campaign office was emblazoned with the slogan: "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." |
Reuters reports that shares in Brazilian gun maker Taurus Armas SA climbed by about 88% year-on-year amid expectation gun rights would be relaxed. | Reuters reports that shares in Brazilian gun maker Taurus Armas SA climbed by about 88% year-on-year amid expectation gun rights would be relaxed. |
In his tweet on Saturday announcing the decree, Mr Bolsonaro said those with criminal records would continue to be prevented from owning guns. | In his tweet on Saturday announcing the decree, Mr Bolsonaro said those with criminal records would continue to be prevented from owning guns. |
A poll last August found that 58% of Brazilians believed that restrictions should continue on gun ownership. But any decree Mr Bolsonaro puts before Congress is likely to pass with a majority. | A poll last August found that 58% of Brazilians believed that restrictions should continue on gun ownership. But any decree Mr Bolsonaro puts before Congress is likely to pass with a majority. |
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