After nearly two decades of severe restrictions on gun rights and record levels of violence in their country, Brazilian firearm owners are ready for a change.
Previously reported by A1F.org, President-elect Jair Bolsonaro made comments during his campaign and following his win in a post-election interview that he wants to follow through on his intention to ease gun-control restrictions.
“We have to stop this politically correct thing, saying that disarming everyone will make Brazil a better place—it won’t,” Bolsonaro said in the interview.
Detailed in a recent New York Times article, young couple Natalia and Rubens Ortega have signed up for firearm training at their local shooting club in São Paulo. The couple stated they want to be prepared when the time comes for their rights to be restored.
Brazilians have two options for self-defense under current laws. To obtain a firearm for self-defense, they must provide a formal reason for needing a gun, have that reason approved by the police, receive a license, and store the firearm exclusively at work or at home. For a sporting weapon, the firearm can be stored at home and carried to an authorized shooting club. Full documentation is required at all times for transportation.
The Times story also spoke to the Centaurus shooting academy, owned and operated by former police officer Nelson de Oliveira Jr.. who noted there has been a surge in calls to his business inquiring about training, laws and what’s coming next for citizens interested in their firearm rights.
“Right now, only the criminals have guns,” said Natalia Ortega. “I’m not going to run around the streets with a gun in my hand, but a criminal might think twice if normal citizens could be armed.”
