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Mexico,El Salvador,Honduras,Venezuela,Brazil,Colombia
Colombia Capital Tries Trial Ban on Guns in Public
2 February 2012
New York Times / AP
BOGOTA, Colombia — Gustavo Petro was imprisoned as a rebel in the 1980s on a weapons conviction. As Bogota's new mayor, he wants to get firearms off the streets of this city where the conspicuous display of guns has long been the norm.
So he's trying an experimental ban on gun-wielding in public.
The only people authorized to carry weapons during the 90-day trial that began Wednesday are active and retired police and soldiers, bodyguards of diplomats, politicians,... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil: 4.3 Million Guns Sold in 5yrs, 40,000 Gun Deaths in 2009 [Portugues]
27 January 2012
Publica (Brazil)
[Translated summary: domestic manufacturers alone sold 4.3 million guns in Brazil over the past five years. Nearly 40,000 people died in 2009 in episodes involving firearms, including homicides, suicides and accidents, according to latest figures provided by the Ministry of Health. A study by Pablo Dreyfuss, who was a leading expert on the subject, showed that 90% of these deaths are the result of crimes and the risk of dying from injuries caused by firearms in Brazil... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil, the Worlds' 4th Largest Arms Manufacturer and Exporter [Portugues]
27 January 2012
Publica (Brazil)
[Tanslated summary: Brazil, fourth largest exporter in small arms and around 4,5 million arms exported in the past five years.]
De maneira pouco transparente, governo incentiva crescimento da indústria. Ênfase é nas armas leves: Brasil é 4º maior exportador mundial. Levantamento inédito do Exército revela que nos últimos 5 anos, exportamos 4,5 milhões de armas.
Uma pequena lata metálica, arranhada e atirada ao chão, gerou o primeiro vexame diplomático... (GunPolicy.org)
Madagascar,Guinea,Ghana,Botswana,Angola,Algeria,South Africa,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Russia,Austria,Israel,Germany,Italy,United States,Yemen,Philippines,Pakistan,Sri Lanka,Tunisia,Brazil,Burkina Faso,Egypt,Côte d'Ivoire,Malawi,Mauritania,Morocco,Namibia,Niger,Nigeria,Congo (ROC),Senegal,Tanzania,Uganda,Zambia,Zimbabwe,Argentina,Ecuador,Chile,Honduras,Guatemala,United Arab Emirates,Trinidad & Tobago,Jordan,Dominican Republic,Singapore,Kazakhstan,Liberia,Saudi Arabia,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Congo (DRC),Guyana,Mauritius,Latvia,Oman,Nepal,Somalia,Bolivia,Colombia,Venezuela,Peru,Mexico,Qatar,Kuwait,Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand
Brazilian Gun Industry Seeks New Markets: Africa and Asia [Portugues]
27 January 2012
Publica (Brazil)
[Translated summary: With the support of the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Brazilian gun manufacturers seek new markets in countries with a history of human rights violations: Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines and Yemen. Brazil is among the six countries in the world with annual exports exceeding $ 100 million, according to recent research from Small Arms Survey. According to the Army, responsible for supervising and controlling exports from 2005 to... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Destroyed 138,000 Arms in 2011 [Espanol]
17 January 2012
Venezolana de Televisión (Caracas)
[Translated summary: The director of Venezuela National Police explained that the rate of destruction in 2011 is of 464 weapons per 100,000 people. An important result compared to 90 weapons per 100,000 people in Brazil.]
El director de la PNB explicó que esa cifra nos da una tasa de destrucción de 464 armas por cada 100.000 habitantes, sólo en el 2011 / Resaltó que este que este dato demuestra que en Venezuela "estamos demostrando con hechos que hay una voluntad... (GunPolicy.org)
FIFA Mulls Brazilian Plans for Gun Scrapping Drive at Soccer World Cup
14 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
RIO DE JANEIRO - Football's governing body, Fifa, is studying plans to hand out free or cut-price World Cup tickets to football fans who surrender guns to the Brazilian government.
Brazil's justice ministry submitted the plans for the 2014 event last month as part of a new disarmament drive in the South American country.
According to reports in the Brazilian media, the government's suggestions also include swapping official footballs and shirts signed by World Cup... (GunPolicy.org)
Rio de Janeiro Police Caught Selling Seized Firearms to Criminal Gangs
13 December 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Police in Rio de Janeiro arrested 16 people, including 11 military police, accused of selling confiscated firearms to criminal groups.
According to news site R7, the group operated a gun trafficking ring that sold weapons to gangs based in Rio's third-largest favela, Jacarezinho.
This is one of Rio's poorer areas, where crack cocaine use is widespread, and prison gang the Red Command (Comando Vermelho) is active.
Jacarezinho does not yet have a police pacification... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Govt Recorded More Than 38,000 Gun Deaths in 2010 [Espanol]
12 December 2011
La Nueva (Argentina)
[Translated summary: According to data released by Brazil Ministry of Health, 70.5% of the murders of 2010 involved firearms. If suicides, accidents and gun deaths from undetermined cause are taken into account, firearms were involved in the death of more than 38,000 people.]
El 70,5 % de los asesinatos que se registraron en Brasil en 2010, 35.233 personas, fueron muertos con armas de fuego, según datos difundidos hoy por el Ministerio de Salud.
Si se cuentan los... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela,Peru,Ecuador,Chile,Bolivia,Paraguay,Brazil,Argentina,Mexico,Colombia,Uruguay,United States,North America,South America,Central America,Caribbean
Latin American Governments Target Gun Runners, Countries Making Guns
28 November 2011
United Press International
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - Latin America's increasingly ambitious Mercosur regional bloc is aiming to focus on small arms suppliers who are seen as being behind the region's endemic and seemingly insurmountable problem of violent crime.
The area's disparate armed groups, guerrillas with political agenda and drug-related gangs have drawn attention from Mercosur's watchdog committees as senior officials explore ways of containing organized crime, rooting out myriad networks... (GunPolicy.org)
570,000 Firearms Removed from Brazil Streets since 2004 [Espanol]
1 November 2011
Univision (USA) / AFP
[Translated summary: The Brasilian government has recovered 570,000 firearms since 2004. This year, 28,000 firearms were removed from circulation; between 1997 and 2008: 1,8 million firearms were destroyed; at least 8 million guns are still in the hands of civilians, security forces and criminals; firearms are involved in 20,000 to 30,000 murders each year.]
El gobierno brasileño retiró 570.000 armas de fuego de circulación durante las campañas públicas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Churches Support Brazil Gun Buyback, Destroy 27,000 Firearms [Francais]
28 October 2011
La Croix (France)
[Translated summary: The Sou da Paz Institute, a Brazilian non-governmental organisation that campaigns actively for the prevention of violence sought the help of churches and religious communities to support and justify its campaign of voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition.]
L'institut Sou da Paz, une organisation non-gouvernementale brésilienne qui milite activement pour la prévention de la violence a demandé le concours des Églises et des communautés... (GunPolicy.org)
Half a Million Guns Destroyed This Year in Brazil Gun Buyback [Francais]
17 September 2011
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated summary: The Brazilian Minister of Justice launched the second phase of national disarmament, urging civilians to surrender their guns. The first phase aimed to collect 22,000 firearms.]
Le ministre brésilien de la Justice vient de lancer la deuxième phase d'une campagne incitant les citoyens à se séparer de leurs armes à feu.
Les Brésiliens peuvent l'effectuer de manière anonyme et toucher, selon le type d'arme, entre 100 et 300 reals (de 40 à... (GunPolicy.org)
One Death by Gunshot Every 15 Minutes in Brazil [Francais]
3 September 2011
Le Nouvel Observateur (France), Blog
[Translated summary: In less than six months, the Military Police of Imperatriz, Brazil, have collected 84 firearms during random investigations. On Average in Brazil, there is one gun death every 15 minutes]
IMPERATRIZ, Maranhão - Il y a des centaines d'armes à feu en circulation rien que dans la région d'Imperatriz. On vient de saisir une douzaine de pistolets et fusils hier et avant-hier dans les rues. Au Brésil il y a un mort par balle toutes les 15 minutes... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa,Brazil,Argentina,Australia,Mexico,United States,Canada,Africa,Sweden,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas
Canada Gun Lobby Influence on Foreign Policy: Arms Trade Treaty
3 August 2011
Embassy Magazine (Canada), Opinion
Canada has never been a strong supporter of international efforts to negotiate an effective Arms Trade Treaty. But in mid-July, it reversed its previous low-key but constructive role at the United Nations ATT preparatory meetings to become a potential treaty spoiler. All indications point to this change of heart arising from the domestic gun lobby's influence on Canadian foreign policy.
After years of preparation, member states of the United Nations will devote a month... (GunPolicy.org)
Guyana Police Arrested Venezuelan for Illegal Handgun Possession
20 July 2011
DemeraraWaves (Guyana)
A Venezuelan man was early Wednesday nabbed allegedly with a gun and ammunition in his possession.
Guyana Police Force spokesman, Ivelaw Whittaker said police acted on information about 4 AM and found a .38 revolver and 12 matching rounds.
The arrest took place at Eteringbang Landing. He is assisting police with their investigations, Whittaker added.
Police Commissioner, Henry Greene told Demerara Waves Online News ( www.demwaves.com ) that the man entered Guyana... (GunPolicy.org)
Suriname,Bolivia,Colombia,Brazil,Paraguay,Argentina
Brazil's New Small Arms Smuggling Frontier? The Sea
18 July 2011
Christian Science Monitor, Blog
Brazil has more gun deaths than any other country in the world, and so the phenomenon of arms trafficking is a major concern.
Almost 20 percent of guns seized in the country are foreign produced, while those that cannot legally be sold in the country are legitimately produced in Brazil and then exported, before being smuggled back in, according to a study on arms trafficking by NGO Viva Rio, in collaboration with Brazil's Justice Department.
According to a recent... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Buyback Aims to Collect, Destroy Another Million Guns in Brazil
7 May 2011
Associated Press
The government began a gun buyback campaign on Friday that officials hope will take more than one million guns off the streets by the end of the year.
The campaign started one month after a gunman shot and killed 12 children in a Rio de Janeiro school before killing himself. In similar campaigns in 2003 and 2009, 1.1 million firearms were turned in.
The Justice Ministry says on its Web site that gun owners can turn in their guns and ammunition with no questions... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Lawmakers Propose New Referendum on Gun Law, Gun Sale Ban
13 April 2011
BBC News
Brazilian lawmakers say they will propose a national vote on whether to ban the sale of guns, after a deadly shooting at a school last week.
The Senate leader said legislators would rush through a bill to allow a referendum to be held this autumn.
A similar proposal in 2005 was rejected by voters and kept gun sales legal.
Brazil observed three days of mourning after the attack on 7 April, in which a gunman shot dead 12 children in a school in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil... (GunPolicy.org)
School Shooting Prompts Gun Buyback, Bill to Ban Gun Sales in Brazil
12 April 2011
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Five days after Brazil's most lethal school shooting killed 12 children, Senate leaders decided Tuesday to rush a bill that would let the voters decide whether to forbid gun sales in South America's biggest country.
Senate leader Jose Sarney said at a news conference that legislators would treat the matter with urgency so the issue could be put before Brazilian citizens this fall.
The bill would have to be approved by both the Senate and the... (GunPolicy.org)
After Brazil Mass Shooting, Demonstrators Demand Tougher Gun Laws
12 April 2011
NTD-TV News (New York), Transcript
A group of protesters gather on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro - three days after 12 children were shot dead at a local school.
They're calling on authorities to increase gun control measures.
As red-stained Brazilian flags blow in the breeze - the activists hold signs with the names of the children who were lined up and shot point-blank.
One demonstrator said security forces need to crack down on the availability of fire arms.
[Antonio Costa, President,... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Renews Its Million-Gun Destruction Push After Rio School Massacre
12 April 2011
Forbes (USA)
Brazil's Ministry of Justice is calling on gun owners to turn in their arms. The government's disarmament campaign is voluntary and began back in 2005, but the justice department opted to start the campaign earlier and promote it more feverishly following the nation's first homicidal school shooting on April 7 in the Realengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
The disarmament campaign will start May 6 with the objective to take as many guns off the street as possible.... (GunPolicy.org)
Suspected Vendors of Revolver to Rio Schoolkids' Mass Killer Arrested
10 April 2011
Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela)
RIO DE JANEIRO – Rio de Janeiro's Civil Police announced Saturday the arrest of two men accused of selling a revolver to the perpetrator of last Thursday's massacre at a school, in which 12 children were killed and another 12 were wounded.
Charleston Souza de Lucena, 38, and Izaias de Souza, 48, were arrested before dawn Saturday, accused of selling a 32 caliber revolver to Wellington Menezes de Oliveira, the killer who committed suicide when surrounded by... (GunPolicy.org)
School Massacre Spotlights Gun Violence, Rising Firearm Sales in Brazil
8 April 2011
Christian Science Monitor
Brazil is no stranger to urban mayhem, with street shootouts splashing the front pages of newspapers each day in the nation that tops the world in deaths by firearms.
But Thursday's massacre of 12 children at school in western Rio de Janeiro has touched a nerve in this hardened nation. As families hold burial services today, Brazil is asking how such violence more associated with the United States became a reality here.
As happened following the 2007 Virginia Tech... (GunPolicy.org)
Young Gun Owner Shoots, Kills 12 in Brazil's Worst Mass School Shooting
7 April 2011
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - A gunman roamed the halls of an elementary school in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday and killed 11 children, lining them up against a wall and shooting them in the head at point-blank range as he shouted, "I'm going to kill you all!"
It was the worst school shooting in Brazil and would have been deadlier if the gunman had not been shot in the legs by a police officer, who said the man then fell down some stairs and shot himself in the head.
Images... (GunPolicy.org)
Drop in Gun Violence as Rio Works to Rid its Slums of Armed Drug Gangs
1 April 2011
Guardian (UK)
Pushing through the emergency department's rubber-coated swing doors, Dr Luiz Sérgio Verbicaro threw open his arms as if welcoming guests to his new home.
Before him a huddle of bored-looking medics made small talk around a table in a corner of the otherwise empty department. Outside, the ambulance bay was deserted.
"It is good – and abnormal," said Verbicaro, 60, a veteran surgeon and the director of the Getúlio Vargas hospital in northern Rio de Janeiro, until... (GunPolicy.org)
Peru,Guatemala,Afghanistan,Argentina,Venezuela,Brazil,South America
Survey: South American Security Firms Carry More Guns Than Elsewhere
29 March 2011
United Press International
RIO DE JANEIRO - Private security firms in Latin America are the most armed with the largest weapons arsenals in that category of security industry companies worldwide, a new survey report said.
An added problem was that many of the weapons carried by employees of private security firms weren't registered under companies' names.
Instead, the weapons had private registrations that made the task of evaluating the firms' arsenals more difficult, said an advance research... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Switzerland,Russia,Norway,Mexico,Japan,Italy,Germany,Austria,Czech Republic,India,China,Canada,Brazil,Australia,United States
How Gun Control Laws Vary in 16 Countries Around the World
10 January 2011
Guardian (UK)
Australia
Ownership is strictly prohibited unless there are "genuine reasons" such as licensed sport, animal control or employment requirements.
Brazil
If you are over 25 and have registered a weapon, you are free to keep it indoors. The country has the second-highest gun-related death rate after the US.
Canada
Significantly stricter than the neighbouring US. To acquire a licence, applicants must undertake a safety course, pass a criminal records check and be... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owner Kills His Bride, Best Man, Himself at His Own Wedding in Brazil
21 December 2010
United Press International
RECIFE, Brazil - A Brazilian man shot and killed his new wife and his best man and then took his own life at their wedding reception, police said.
The bride's brother was wounded, O Globo reported.
Witnesses told police Roger Damascena, 29, went to his father's pickup truck during the reception Saturday in Casa Grande, a village near Recife, and apparently retrieved a gun. A few minutes later, he began shooting, gunning down Renata Costa Alexandre Coelho, 25, and... (GunPolicy.org)
Most Robberies In Guyana Involve Guns, Many Smuggled from Brazil
18 May 2010
Stabroek News (Guyana), Editorial
Last week's forum – "In Harm's Way: Girls in Settings of Endemic Armed Violence" – that was organized to observe the 'Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence' by the International Action Network against Small Arms was cause for both controversy and concern.
Ms Glynis Beaton, General Secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association, created a stir by declaring, probably with some hyperbole, that there were "at least 150,000 persons in possession of illegal... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Saved 13,000 Lives, 1 for Each Gun Destroyed in São Paulo
30 March 2010
Estadão (São Paulo)
Translated summary: Policies to reduce gun violence saved 13,000 lives -- one life saved for each firearm destroyed -- in Sao Paulo State between 2001 and 2007, according to a new study 'Less Guns, Less Crimes'.
Um estudo do Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (Ipea) e da PUC-Rio relaciona a queda no número de homicídios no Estado de São Paulo, entre 2001 e 2007, ao crescimento na apreensão de armas - sobretudo após o Estatuto do Desarmamento entrar em... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Announces Amnesty to Reduce 5million Unregistered Guns
11 January 2010
Global Insight
The Brazilian government has launched a new disarmament campaign, according to the interim justice minister Luis Paulo Barreto, Agencia Brasil reports. The Justice Ministry has also released data on a campaign to register firearms that ended on 31 December. The campaign saw 1.2 million arms registered last year and 14,544 arms handed over to the police in return for compensation. Anyone found with a weapon that has not been registered faces the risk of a three-year jail... (GunPolicy.org)
'Aggressive Incentives' Lure Brazilian Gun Maker from Florida to Georgia
17 July 2009
Atlanta Business Chronicle
A Miami-based small-arms manufacturer has Georgia in its sights for a corporate relocation that would create up to 300 jobs.
Taurus USA is also eyeing locations in Alabama, South Carolina and Brevard County, Fla., for the up to $20 million investment.
If Taurus relocated to Georgia from its Hialeah, Fla., location, it would locate manufacturing, distribution and corporate jobs in an up to 125,000-square-foot facility. The jobs would pay, on average, about... (GunPolicy.org)
Argentina,Brazil,United Nations
Global Gun Control Expert Pablo Dreyfus Killed in Air Crash [Espanol]
22 June 2009
El Clarin (Buenos Aires), Obituary
[Translated summary: World-renowned and respected gun control expert Pablo Dreyfus and his wife died in the recent crash of Air France 447].
Mensajes de todo Brasil llegan sin cesar, en homenaje al argentino Pablo Dreyfus, desaparecido en el accidente del avión de Air France. Son militares, diplomáticos, policías, curas, gobernadores, parlamentarios, ONGs y ciudadanos comunes, que envían agradecimientos por todo lo que ese porteño ha hecho por los... (GunPolicy.org)
Portugal,Angola,Brazil,Cape Verde,Guinea-Bissau,Mozambique,Sao Tome & Principe,Timor-Leste
Police Chiefs of Portuguese-speaking Nations Meet to Curb Gun Running
12 June 2009
Diario de Noticias (Lisbon)
CPLP (Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries) police chiefs have created a committee to fight arms trafficking through tighter controls of legal arms sales.
The PSP (Portuguese Public Security Police) has suggested to the CPLP chiefs of police a harmonization of legislation relating to the trade and transport of firearms. The objective is to prevent the considerable number of weapons circulating legally between these countries falling into criminal hands.
The CPLP... (GunPolicy.org)
United Nations,Finland,New Zealand,United States,Australia,Canada,France,Belgium,Sweden,Switzerland,South Africa,Austria,Israel,Brazil,Germany
Comparison of Key Handgun Restrictions in 14 Industrialised Countries
25 September 2008
Economist
Finland's government is introducing tougher regulations on handguns following a mass shooting at a school on Tuesday September 23rd, the second in under a year.
The country had been among the most lenient in the world, allowing 15-year-olds to keep a handgun under parental supervision, requiring no medical or psychological tests and no minimum wait for those buying weapons.
The gun-death rate (whether murder, accident or suicide) in rich countries is highest where... (GunPolicy.org)
$28million Gun Buyback Aims to Destroy 300,000 More Firearms in Brazil
23 August 2008
BBC News
SAO PAULO — 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... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Kicks Off New Gun Registration, Buyback Campaign [português]
21 August 2008
Folha de São Paulo
[Translated summary: Brazil begins a new gun registration drive, convincing citizens either to register their guns, or to hand them over in a new buy-back campaign].
O governo lançou nesta quinta-feira uma nova edição da campanha para o registro nacional de armas de fogo. Coordenada pelo Ministério da Justiça, a campanha tem como objetivo incentivar os brasileiros a registrar ou entregar voluntariamente suas armas para reduzir as mortes no país. A partir de... (GunPolicy.org)
With Less Drugs and Guns, Homicides Fall in São Paulo [Português]
6 August 2008
O Estado de São Paulo / AE
[Translated summary: A study from the São Paulo Public Security Secretary shows a direct correlation between the reduction of guns in circulation and the dramatic decrease in homicides in the state this decade].
SÃO PAULO — Estudo feito pela Secretaria da Segurança Pública mostra uma correlação direta entre a redução da circulação das armas de fogo e a diminuição dos homicídios nas 99 cidades do Estado que registram mais de 20 casos por ano em 2001. Os... (GunPolicy.org)
Machine Guns from Bolivian Army Equip Rio Drug Traffickers [Português]
3 August 2008
O Globo (Rio de Janeiro)
[Translated summary: Nine .30 machine guns diverted from the Bolivian armed forces have been apprehended in Rio's favelas this year alone, after being transported through Paraguay].
RIO — A novidade agora entre os traficantes dos morros e favelas do Rio é uma metralhadora calibre .30 (7,92 x 57mm), modelo Lehky Kulomet ZB, fabricada na antiga República da Tchecoslováquia, com capacidade de tiro capaz de derrubar até um helicóptero. Arma de guerra de uso restrito... (GunPolicy.org)
New Gun Amnesty, Buyback, 'Disarmament Caravan' in Brazil [Português]
29 July 2008
Jornal do Brasil (Brazil) / Portal Terra
[Translated summary: Federal Police official explains "disarmament caravan" that will take place later this year to collect guns from isolated places in Brazil, in new gun buy-back campaign with the participation of civil society].
BRASÍLIA — A Polícia Federal, por meio do Ministério da Justiça, deve firmar convênios e criar a caravana do desarmamento para recolher armas em pontos isolados do Brasil.
- A idéia é ir um pessoal e ficar na cidade por um ou dois... (GunPolicy.org)
Federal Police Estimate Brazil Has Five Million Illegal Guns [Português]
29 July 2008
Jornal do Brasil (Brazil) / Portal Terra
[Translated summary: Estimate from the Brazilian Federal Police points to five million illegal guns in the country, and official explains how gun owners can register their weapon].
ARARAQUARA — O Brasil tem hoje em torno de cinco milhões de armas consideradas ilegais e sem qualquer registro do governo. Esta é a estimativa oficial da Polícia Federal, órgão responsável pela Campanha do Desarmamento 2008, que tem como foco, além de receber as armas da... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Youth, Gun Focus May Hold Answer to Jamaica's Gun Crime Problem
7 May 2008
Jamaica Gleaner
A multidimensional strategy including a strong emphasis on improved police-community relations has been credited for Brazil's success in curbing crime in its second largest city.
The anti-crime push — which is also hinged on rehabilitating troubled youths and seizing guns from the streets — has been critical to Cesar Rubem battling lawlessness in his native Rio de Janeiro.
"Our work has tried to look at these three components — working with young people, gun... (GunPolicy.org)
United Nations,United States,France,Canada,Germany,Angola,Thailand,Australia,Colombia,South Africa,Turkey,Pakistan,Russia,Brazil,United Kingdom,India,China
Guns Around the World: Civilian Firearms per 100 People in 16 Nations
30 April 2008
Economist
An estimated 875m small arms are in circulation worldwide: one for every seven people on the planet. Nearly three-quarters of these are owned by civilians. And about 80% of those guns in civilian hands are found in just 30 countries, according to the Small Arms Survey, a research group.
Although America accounts for 40% of firearms in civilian ownership, people put them to more deadly use elsewhere. The gun murder rate in Colombia and South Africa, for example, is... (GunPolicy.org)
Protestors Place 2,000 Crosses for Victims of Gun Violence in Rio de Janeiro
27 April 2008
IndiaTimes / Reuters
On Saturday a group called "Peace for Rio" placed 2,000 crosses along one of Rio's main roads to commemorate the death of each person to have been gunned down in the city in 2008 thus far. Some 17 people are killed every day in Rio. Gun violence is the leading cause of death.
"It is a real tragedy this massacre of human lives. Behind each of these crosses there is a family tragedy, those who are living and today are inconsolable after having a family member... (GunPolicy.org)
Guyana,Trinidad & Tobago,Caribbean,Brazil,Argentina
Women's Groups Demand to Know Where Caribbean Gangs Get Their Guns
5 March 2008
Stabroek News (Guyana)
A two-day meeting for parliamentarians and NGOs to review the impact and "responses to small arms diffusion and violence in the Caribbean" is set for Trinidad today and a women's group is asking where the gangs are getting guns and ammo for killings like those at Lusignan and Bartica .
According to a press release the Women's Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) said the meeting hopes to explore a Caricom instrument to support implementation of the UN... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Gun Deaths Outpaced Births: Gun Buyback Saw 8% Homicide Drop
28 February 2008
ISN Security Watch (Switzerland), Web Page
Results from a recently released study that measured population growth and homicides in Brazil between 1996 and 2006 revealed that homicides dropped by eight percent between 2003 and 2006, a time period that overlaps with a nationwide gun buy-back program during which nearly 500,000 firearms were removed from circulation.
Gun buy-back programs have met with mixed success in Latin America, but according to the study, authored by Julio Jacobo Waiselfisz, Brazil's gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Paraguayan Military Men Arrested for Ammunition Theft, Gunrunning to Brazil
9 January 2008
LatinNews Daily, Web Page
The involvement of high-ranking Paraguayan military officers in the clandestine supply of arms to criminal gangs in Brazil appears to have been confirmed with the arrest of a colonel and a major in a case involving the theft of army munitions and their sale on the black market in Ciudad del Este, in the notorious Triple Border area.
On 24 December an audit of the arsenal of the 3rd infantry division just outside Ciudad del Este revealed that more than 50,000 rounds of... (GunPolicy.org)
Celebratory Gunfire Kills Brazilians, Stray Bullets Fly in Rio's New Year Bash
1 January 2008
International Herald Tribune / AP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — One man was killed and five people were wounded by gunfire at a New Year's bash that drew some 2 million people to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach, the government's official news agency said Tuesday.
A 29-year-old man died of a gunshot wound in the stomach, and a 63-year-old woman shot in the back and a 24-year-old man shot in the head were hospitalized in critical condition, the official Agencia Brasil news service reported.
Three other... (GunPolicy.org)
Santa Retreats: Festive Helicopter Takes Bullet Holes, Visiting Kids in Rio
19 December 2007
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Not even Santa is safe in Rio de Janeiro.
A helicopter carrying a Santa Claus to distribute gifts at a Christmas party came under fire when it flew over a Rio shantytown, authorities said Wednesday.
The chopper was hit by two rifle shots Sunday, but no one was injured and the aircraft returned safely to its base, police inspector Aldari Vianna said by telephone.
Gang members apparently attacked the helicopter thinking it belonged to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilian Ammunition Manufacturer Pioneers Laser Marking on Each Round
21 September 2007
Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane), Web Page
If the recent reports of a South African Metro Police officer's dealing in ammunition from his vehicle are anything to go by the answer must be a resounding 'yes'.
The case of the Metro Police officer has made it clear that current control mechanisms over ammunition in State armouries are ineffective. The measures did not prevent the corrupt official from selling ammunition to criminals. The seriousness of this is made worse given that, according to reports, this... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Smuggling 'Rampant' Across Porous Guyana-Brazil Frontier
2 September 2007
Stabroek News (Guyana)
Illegal trafficking in arms and ammunition is rampant across the border between Guyana and Brazil, with one speedboat operator at Lethem telling this newspaper on Friday that he frequently transported men with weapons stashed in suitcases via the many illegal crossings over the Takutu River.
The speedboat operator also told this newspaper that criminals in Brazil and Guyana would often trade drugs for guns, with the Guyanese mostly supplying the Brazilians with... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Helped Sao Paulo, Brazil Halve its Murder Rate - US Study
25 June 2007
KYW News Radio (Philadelphia)
Criminologists in the US have been studying how one city in Brazil managed to halve its murder rate in seven years.
Ted Goertzel, professor of sociology at Rutgers University-Camden, says the out-of-control murder rate in San Paolo, Brazil was cut in half in less than seven years by a nationwide firearms ban. He says the same thing has been thought of in the US, but it's the politics that differ:
"They don't have the protection for the right to carry guns that we... (GunPolicy.org)
Stray Bullets Rain Down on Rio de Janeiro: 87 Innocents Hit in 3 Months
20 June 2007
San Francisco Chronicle / AP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The toll from stray bullets that rain down on Rio from the city's steep hillside slums as police and drug gangs battle with automatic weapons has grown sharply, with one innocent bystander killed or wounded every day.
Businesses and schools in the line of fire have been shuttered. Thousands of children are staying home. Even air travel is affected — domestic jet routes were diverted from Rio's downtown airport when shooting flared up in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil,South America,Central America,United Nations
Global Gun Control Week Builds Pressure on Gun Violence in Latin America
11 June 2007
O Globo (Rio de Janeiro), Opinion
It is Global Action Week against Armed Violence and we need to follow up on two important processes: internationally, the Geneva Declaration, and in Brazil, the new National Plan of Public Security and Citizenship.
The Geneva Declaration on armed violence and development is an initiative of the Swiss government aimed at reaching a resolution on this issue at the UN General Assembly by the end of 2008 and defining goals for security and development. Unfortunately, the... (GunPolicy.org)
São Paulo's Murder Rate Halved Since 2000, Gun Control Partly Credited
10 June 2007
Brazzil Magazine
The murder rate in the state of São Paulo has been cut in half since 2000. This will come as a surprise to many readers because there has been so much news coverage of brazen attacks by organized criminals on police stations and public transportation in São Paulo as well as in Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities.
These attacks are intended to generate media coverage, embarrass officials and intimidate law enforcement. They disrupt the life of the community and... (GunPolicy.org)
Drug-related Gun Battles in Rio de Janeiro Leave 19 Dead
18 April 2007
BBC News
Nineteen people have been killed in gun battles between rival drug gangs and in a separate incident involving police in Brazil's city of Rio de Janeiro.
The battles are said to have involved drug dealers trying to gain control in the Morro da Mineira shantytown.
The shootings caused chaos in the central district of the city.
They happened as the government considers a request from Rio's governor for troops to be sent to the city to help police.
Earlier this... (GunPolicy.org)
In Rio, Ambulance Crews Carry, Spray-fire M-16s to Ward Off Drug Gangs
30 March 2007
Washington Post Foreign Service
RIO DE JANEIRO — Emergency medical technician Antonio Carlos Maia doesn't ride shotgun in his ambulance. He rides assault rifle. The scuffed barrel of his M-16 juts out of the passenger-side window, locked and loaded with a magazine full of bullets.
Just in case, a 9mm pistol is holstered under the bottom edge of his bulletproof vest. The ambulance driver and two additional EMTs riding in the back have their own guns, meaning that this military police medical crew in... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilian States Which Destroyed Most Guns Saw Crime Rates Fall
25 September 2006
Reuters
BRASILIA, Brazil — More than 150 Brazilians were murdered each day last year on average, putting Brazil on a par with some war zones in terms of its homicide rate, the Justice Ministry said on Monday.
Some 55,000 Brazilians died of homicide in 2005 — a few thousand more civilians than in three years of war in Iraq, according to leading estimates.
Brazil, a continent-sized nation of 185 million people starkly divided into rich and poor, has had notoriously high... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,Canada,Brazil,United Nations
Nations Disarm: Australia Set Off a Universal Gun-Control Revolution
28 April 2006
Australian (Sydney), Opinion
Today we remember the Port Arthur murder victims in church services and vigils, prayers and concerts, books and documentaries. The cross listing their names overlooks the memorial garden, a quiet place for contemplation and tears in honour of those so brutally slain on April 28, 1996.
Another memorial to those killed and wounded on that awful day is less visible or tangible but powerful nonetheless: Australia's nationally uniform gun laws. Out of horror and insanity,... (GunPolicy.org)
Former Soldiers Confess to Stealing Assault Rifles from Brazilian Army
17 March 2006
United Press International
RIO DE JANEIRO — Two former Brazilian soldiers confessed to stealing weapons from an armory, prompting a military operation to recover them, O Globo reported Friday.
Some 1,500 troops staged search operations in Rio's hillside slums known as "favelas" in an effort to find the cache of weapons.
However after 10 days of searching, the patrols supported by tanks and helicopters did not find the guns.
The operation sparked increased violence in the favelas, where... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilian Army Recovers Assault Rifles Stolen by Shantytown Robbers
15 March 2006
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The recovery of stolen weapons won't stop the army from searching shantytowns for the bandits who took them, security officials said Wednesday.
The army announced Tuesday that it had recovered the 10 assault rifles and a pistol stolen from an army barracks on March 3 by seven gunmen wearing army-issue camouflage gear and ninja masks.
The robbery triggered a massive military operation, with some 1,600 troops occupying 10 shantytowns... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilian Troops, Police Storm Favelas in Search for Stolen Army Guns
8 March 2006
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Army troops and federal highway police set up checkpoints on Rio de Janeiro's major access roads Wednesday, trying to prevent thieves from fleeing with rifles stolen from a Brazilian army barracks last week.
Some 1,500 troops and police officers have occupied nine shantytowns searching for the guns stolen Friday by seven gunmen wearing army-issue camouflage gear and ninja masks. The gunmen overpowered three guards, stole the weapons from a... (GunPolicy.org)
Caribbean,Central America,Honduras,Colombia,Mexico,Brazil
Guns and Cocaine in Caribbean, Central America: A Market Out of Control
28 February 2006
ISN Security Watch (Zurich), Web Page
Gone are the days when the black market for cocaine required a few strong men, limited bribes, and involved the purchase of a few revolvers. The cocaine trade has expanded well beyond the Andean mountain corridor and the control of local actors there.
The market for small arms and light weapons has completely overlapped the cocaine market. Purchases for arms are no longer made with cash but with cocaine, and the same routes used to smuggle cocaine out of South America... (GunPolicy.org)
El Salvador,Paraguay,Guatemala,Costa Rica,Colombia,Brazil,Mexico,Central America,South America
At Least 90 People Killed in Latin American New Year Celebrations
2 January 2006
Australian Associated Press
SAN SALVADOR — At least 90 people were killed in Latin America in road, fireworks and other accidents during New Year's celebrations.
The highest death toll was registered in El Salvador, where some 33 people were killed and another 89 injured during celebrations marking the start of 2006, officials said.
Carlos Alvarado, a spokesman for the country's civil defence system, said that many of those killed and wounded from late Saturday to early Sunday were victims of... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty Uses Brazil Violence to Promote Gun Control in the World
5 December 2005
Brazzil / Agência Brasil
During the course of 2006, Amnesty International plans to present its report entitled "They Come In Shooting — The Policing of Socially Excluded Communities in Brazil," on police violence in Brazil, in various European, Latin American, and US cities.
The full text of the 52-page long document, which was released internationally on Friday, December 2, is available on the website: www.amnesty.org.
The presentations will include the participation of two Brazilian... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Wiser Than San Francisco
16 November 2005
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia), Opinion
Jurisdiction No. 1: High rate of violent crime; a widely publicized anti-gun measure on the ballot; voters decisively reject a measure to ban the sale of firearms and ammunition.
Jurisdiction No. 2: High rate of violent crime; a widely publicized anti-gun measure on the ballot; voters decisively adopt a measure to ban sales of firearms and ammunition.
Two jurisdictions. Two gun-ban measures. Two very different results. The first — in which the ban was rejected —... (GunPolicy.org)
Isolation, Many Dangers Explain Why Brazilians Rejected Gun Ban
30 October 2005
Knight Ridder / Tribune (USA)
CAREIRO CASTANHO, Brazil — For Ezaias Guedes da Lima and his neighbors in this Amazonian town, the idea of giving up their guns is as ridiculous as surrendering the machetes they have used to carve out livelihoods in the thick jungle.
Life here is an isolated, dangerous affair, with only a handful of police covering a huge area and wild boar, alligators and other menaces a constant hazard.
That isolation was demonstrated Thursday morning, when three men armed with... (GunPolicy.org)
Another Defeat for Gun Control: Gwynne Dyer
27 October 2005
Trinidad and Tobago Express
Last Sunday in Brazil, a country with the second-highest rate of gun deaths on the planet, almost two-thirds of Brazilians voted against a total ban on the sale of firearms. Explain that.
Brazil loses 38,000 people a year in gun-related killings. That is twice as bad as the United States, generally regarded as the industry leader in these matters: the US has one and a half times Brazil's population, but only 30,000 Americans are shot to death each year. In Brazil,... (GunPolicy.org)
Unfortunate Rejection of Much Needed Ban on Guns
26 October 2005
Khaleej Times (Dubai), Editorial
It is unfortunate that Brazil voters have rejected the sensible and much needed ban on gun sales. About 64 per cent people voted against and 36 per cent in favour of the ban in a referendum held on Sunday. The referendum results do not really come as a surprise though since most opinion polls ahead of the vote had predicted a defeat for the government proposal.
Yet it is hard to justify the overwhelming opposition to gun sales ban. It only goes to show that majority is... (GunPolicy.org)
Shot Down: Lobby Kills Brazil Gun Ban
25 October 2005
CorpWatch
Every 15 minutes, someone in Brazil dies from a gunshot wound, according to the United Nations. Yet the world's first ever referendum on banning civilian guns in this country failed to pass this past Sunday.
Instead the proposed ban went down to a resounding defeat with almost two thirds of the population voting no to the question: "Should the sale of all types of guns and ammunition be banned nationwide for everyone except the police and the military?"
Earlier this... (GunPolicy.org)
The NRA Takes on Gun Control - in Brazil
25 October 2005
AlterNet
Brazilians flatly rejected a plan to ban the commercial sale of firearms and ammunition in a historic national referendum on Sunday. The vote is a victory for Brazil's wealthy gun lobby which opponents say used strategies learned from the National Rifle Association to shift public opinion.
An estimated 122 million citizens took part in the referendum — the first of its kind in the world — and preliminary counts showed 64 percent went against the ban while 36... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ban Rejection Blamed on Discontent With Lula
25 October 2005
Financial Times (UK)
SAO PAULO — Brazilians voted by more than three to two on Sunday to reject a ban on the sale of firearms and ammunition in the country.
The size of the rejection was seen as a protest at the failure of public policy on security and as a reflection of discontent with the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The vote was held to ratify a clause in the 2003 statute of disarmament. The statute made it harder for Brazilians to buy arms and introduced a... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Advocates Lash Out at Failed Sale Ban
25 October 2005
Jamaica Gleaner / AP
RIO DE JANEIRO — Stunned by the crushing defeat of a referendum to ban the sale of firearms in Brazil, gun control advocates yesterday blamed a lack of public safety and government corruption.
On Sunday, more than 120 million Brazilians were asked: "Should the commerce of small arms and ammunition be prohibited?" With 99.85 per cent of the votes counted, 63.92 per cent of Brazilians voted 'no', while 36.08 per cent voted 'yes'.
"The 'no' vote managed to capitalise... (GunPolicy.org)
In $215 Million Gun Ban Referendum, the Real Question Was …
24 October 2005
OpenDemocracy.net
In a small Brazilian city, José Maria da Silva woke up on Sunday 23 October after a hard working week and prepared to observe a compulsory duty. Not to attend church, even on this saint's day, but rather to go to a polling-station and vote "yes" or "no" on a simple question: "Do you think the commercial sale of firearms and munitions should be prohibited in Brazil?"
As he walked to the polling-station, José Maria da Silva pondered the R$470 million ($215 million)... (GunPolicy.org)
Voters Not Yet Ready to Bid Farewell to Arms: Interesting Summary
24 October 2005
Inter Press Service News Agency
RIO DE JANEIRO — The resounding defeat of a proposed ban on the sale of guns and ammunition in a referendum Sunday reflected one of the most sudden shifts in public opinion ever recorded in Brazil, and some fear that it could usher in more conservative, authoritarian security policies that trample human and social rights.
The firearms ban was voted down by almost two thirds — 64 percent — of voters, an even more sizeable majority than was predicted by polls... (GunPolicy.org)
Rely on the Police? No Way, Say Most Voters
24 October 2005
Reuters
RIO DE JANEIRO — The rejection of a government-backed ban on gun sales by Brazilians has shown their lack of faith in the police and courts in a country where the gun death toll is comparable to war zones.
Nearly 64 percent of voters in this country of 185 million people opposed the proposed ban on Sunday in the world's first national referendum on gun sales.
It was a sign that the fight against crime will be a hot issue in next year's presidential election and... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ban Campaign 'Heavy in Celebrity, Light in Argument'
24 October 2005
BBC News
SAO PAULO — Statistically, Brazil is one of the most violent places on Earth. Last year, 36,000 people were killed with guns — more than in any other country.
And yet the Brazilian people have voted in a referendum to reject a proposal to ban the sale of firearms.
So what happened? To outsiders, this referendum looked like a no-brainer.
In a country where one person is killed with a gun every 15 minutes, surely the public would vote in favour of an outright... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil's Lula Says Access to Guns Won't Help Citizens' Security
24 October 2005
Bloomberg (USA)
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazilians' vote in favor of keeping access to handguns won't make them any more secure.
Brazilians voted 64 percent to 36 percent in a referendum yesterday to reject a proposed ban on retail sales of guns and ammunition, the national elections authority said on its Web site. The balloting marks the first time a country put a gun- control measure to a popular vote, according to the human-rights group Amnesty... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearm Ban Rejected Despite 'Badly Organised, Weak' Gun Owners
24 October 2005
Newsday (New York)
SAO PAULO, Brazil — Voters in Brazil, a country with one of the world's highest rates of gun-related homicide, overwhelmingly rejected a measure yesterday that would have banned the domestic sale of small arms and ammunition.
More than 63 percent of the electorate voted against the ban, including majorities in all 26 Brazilian states and the federal district.
Firearms are involved in the murders of about 38,000 people every year here, more than five times the U.S.... (GunPolicy.org)
Arms Makers Accused of Funding 'Gun Rights' Campaign to 'Manipulate Fears'
24 October 2005
Independent (South Africa) / Reuters
SAO PAULO — From sprawling cities plagued by violence to the backwaters of the Amazon, Brazilians voted decisively on Sunday to keep gun sales legal in the country with the world's highest death toll from firearms.
About 64 percent rejected banning arms sales in the nationwide referendum, the electoral court said, with more than 90 percent of the expected 122 million votes counted.
Only 36 percent supported the ban, even though some 36 000 people were killed by guns... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilians Reject Measure to Ban Sale of Firearms
24 October 2005
Washington Post Foreign Service
BUENOS AIRES — Brazilian voters on Sunday decisively rejected a proposal to outlaw the sale of firearms and ammunition following an aggressive campaign by opponents who argued it would leave citizens defenseless against armed criminals.
With more than 92 percent of the ballots counted, 64 percent of Brazilian voters opposed the ban, which its backers hoped would help Brazil shed its label as one of the world's most dangerous countries. More people are killed by... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilian Voters Appear to Have Beaten Ban on Weapons
24 October 2005
New York Times
BUENOS AIRES — In a national referendum on gun control, voters in Brazil appear to have overwhelmingly rejected a sweeping permanent prohibition on the sale of arms and ammunition.
With three-quarters of the vote counted there, the gun ban proposal, endorsed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and scores of actors, pop stars and other celebrities, was trailing by a ratio of almost two to one. Voting was obligatory, and nearly 120 million people in a country long... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Rejects Gun Sale Ban in Referendum
24 October 2005
Agence France Presse
RIO DE JANEIRO — Voters overwhelmingly rejected a measure to ban gun sales in Brazil, which has one of the world's highest murder rates.
With 74 percent of the electronic ballots counted, election officials said that about 65 percent voted no and 35 percent yes.
Opinion polls had indicated most would vote against the ban.
The government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, human rights groups and the Roman Catholic Church all backed the ban. But the public... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ban Referendum Could Hinge on Suspicion of Police
23 October 2005
Reuters
SAO PAULO, Brazil — From Brazil's violence-plagued slums to the guarded enclaves of the rich, people voted on Sunday on whether to ban guns sales in the country with the world's highest death toll from firearms.
Surveys released before the referendum indicated they would reject the ban despite the fact that some 36,000 people were killed by guns last year in Brazil, where bloodshed and violent crime are a daily worry for many citizens.
In debates leading up to the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Groups Watch Closely, But Deny Funding Gun Ban Fight
23 October 2005
Knight Ridder / Tribune (USA)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilians Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a controversial proposal to ban almost all sales of guns and bullets to civilians.
With about 80 percent of electronic ballots tabulated Sunday night, 66 percent of voters rejected the proposal while 36 percent voted in favor of it, a spread that guaranteed the measure's defeat.
Polls just three months ago found that four-fifths of Brazilians were prepared to vote for the sweeping bullet and gun ban,... (GunPolicy.org)
'Since the Bandits Have Guns, You Need a Gun at Home'
23 October 2005
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilians soundly rejected a proposal to ban the sale of guns in a national referendum Sunday, striking down the bid to stem one of the world's highest firearm murder rates following a campaign that drew parallels to the U.S. gun control debate.
Brazil has 100 million fewer citizens than the United States, but a staggering 25 percent more gun deaths at nearly 40,000 a year. While supporters argued that gun control was the best way to staunch the... (GunPolicy.org)
'World Agenda on Disarmament' Slowed by Pro-gun Vote
23 October 2005
Bloomberg (USA)
Brazilians, voting in a referendum today, may reject a proposal to ban retail sales of guns and ammunition, a law advocates including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva say would curb the country's rising violence.
The nation-wide balloting marks the first time a country has put a gun-control measure to a popular vote, according to the human-rights group Amnesty International. The latest polls ahead of the vote showed a majority leaning against the measure, which... (GunPolicy.org)
Polls Show Brazil Will Vote Against Ban on Firearms
23 October 2005
CNN / AP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A nationwide antigun referendum has stirred many Brazilians to defend a right they feel they deserve, although it's not guaranteed by their Constitution: The right to bear arms.
Just weeks ago, antigun advocates thought they'd win easily when they proposed a nationwide referendum to ban the sale of firearms in Brazil, which kill nearly 40,000 people a year.
But as some 122 million Brazilians prepare to vote Sunday, polls show a majority are... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Holds Contentious Vote on Gun Control Law
22 October 2005
National Public Radio, Weekend Edition (USA), Audio
Interviews recorded with parties to the Brazilian gun ban referendum. Advocates of the right to bear arms clash with those who say guns lead to chaos and violence ahead of Saturday's vote. An estimated 36,000 people were shot dead last year in... (GunPolicy.org)
Murder Toll Forces Gun Ban Referendum
22 October 2005
Independent (UK)
RIO DE JANEIRO — A hand-written sign hangs from the emergency room door, with the warning: "Restricted due to overcrowding (Risk of Death)".
Inside it's a typically hot Friday night at Bonsucesso General Hospital (HGB) in Rio's sprawling north side, and the gunshot victims are rolling in. They are part of an annual tide of firearms casualties that tops 40,000. That is four times the number in the United States, despite the fact that Brazil's population is 100... (GunPolicy.org)
In Referendum Deception, Mandela Threatens to Sue Gun Lobby
22 October 2005
Al Jazeera
Former South African president Nelson Mandela has threatened to sue Brazil's pro-gun lobby for illegally using his image in their campaign against a proposed ban on firearms, an anti-violence group says.
According to Viva Rio on Friday, Mandela's lawyer sent a letter to Brazil's pro-gun group Front for Legitimate Defence, asking it to stop using Mandela's image in its ads urging people to oppose the ban in a nationwide referendum on Sunday.
About 122 million... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Votes on Deadly Obsession With Guns
22 October 2005
Guardian (UK)
About 120 million Brazilians go to the polls tomorrow to vote in a referendum on the sale of guns in a country which has the second highest rate of gun deaths in the world.
Nearly 39,000 people are killed with guns each year in Brazil — around 22 deaths per 100,000 people — according to UNESCO. A fierce battle over the referendum entered its final stages this week, as voters pondered the question: "Should the sale of arms and ammunition be prohibited in Brazil?"... (GunPolicy.org)
Population Sticks to its Guns: Referendum Set to be Rejected
22 October 2005
Times (UK)
One hundred people die from gunshot wounds in Brazil every day, making it one of the world's most dangerous countries. Yet tomorrow Brazilians look set to reject a proposal to ban the sale of firearms and ammunition.
The world's first national referendum on gun control appears likely to result in a victory for the "no" campaign mounted by an alliance of Brazil's conservative parties and funded by gun manufacturers.
Latest opinion polls suggest that opponents of a... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ban Referendum Misses its Target
22 October 2005
Financial Times (UK)
As an exercise in participative democracy, it seems badly flawed. Brazilians will vote in a mandatory referendum tomorrow to decide the question, "Should the sale of firearms and ammunition be prohibited in Brazil?"
There should be little doubt about the answer. Gunshot wounds kill more than 107 Brazilians every day, more than traffic accidents and fewer only than heart and brain disorders.
Restrictions on the owning and bearing of firearms were introduced in December... (GunPolicy.org)
Q&A on Gun Ban Referendum: The Key Issues
21 October 2005
BBC News
Brazilians are to hold a referendum on 23 October on whether to ban the sale of firearms and ammunition to civilians. The authorities say it is the world's first nationwide vote on guns, and that it could set a precedent for campaigns in other countries.
The BBC News website looks at some of the key issues surrounding the referendum.
Why is the Vote Important for Brazil?
The South American country has the second-highest number — behind Venezuela — of... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ban Referendum Support Slides as Opposition Attacks
21 October 2005
BBC News
Campaigning is nearing a climax ahead of an unprecedented national referendum on banning gun sales in Brazil — where one person is killed with a firearm every 15 minutes.
Many landowners, who often live in remote areas out of the reach of law enforcement agencies, are fighting hard for a No vote. Opinion polls suggest the comfortable lead earlier allocated to the Yes vote has now been eroded.
The head of the parliamentary Commission of Agriculture, deputy Xico... (GunPolicy.org)
Rio Slums Blighted By Gun Crime: Firearm Prices Up Since Ban
21 October 2005
BBC News
As Brazil gears up for a referendum on banning the sale of guns and ammunition, Jo Wright visits some of Rio de Janeiro's slums, or favelas, where many residents live with the constant threat of gun violence from heavily armed drug traffickers. The names of the favela residents have been changed.
In the favelas, buildings are pock-marked with bullet holes and youths with military-style small arms patrol the streets at night. Incursions by police or rival factions can... (GunPolicy.org)
John Lott: Q&A on Brazil's Gun Referendum
21 October 2005
Council on Foreign Relations (USA), Interview
Brazilians go to the polls October 23 to vote in a referendum to ban the sale of guns and ammunition. The referendum — the first of its kind in the world — is aimed at curbing Brazil's soaring murder and violent crime rates.
John Lott, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and author of the book More Guns, Less Crime, suggests a ban would do little to stem gun violence in Brazil. He points to inadequate law enforcement as a greater problem. "If the... (GunPolicy.org)
As Brazil Votes to Ban Guns, US Gun Lobby Warns of Global Fight
21 October 2005
Nation (USA)
On October 23 an estimated 122 million Brazilians will vote in a national referendum on whether to ban the sale of guns and ammunition to private citizens. The first of its kind in the world, this referendum has divided the population of Brazil, a world leader in gun deaths, along sim or não lines.
In 2003 voters here passed what is the strictest gun law in the Americas; now the nation's top leadership is divided on how much further to go. The stakes are high. The... (GunPolicy.org)
In a Global First, Brazilians Voting on Banning Gun Sales
21 October 2005
Christian Science Monitor
RIO DE JANEIRO — The debate over gun control is entering uncharted waters in Brazil, where for the first time anywhere in the world, a proposed ban on gun sales will be put directly to voters.
Sunday's referendum follows an ambitious gun buyback scheme last year that prompted people to turn in more than 420,000 weapons ranging from antique rifles to semiautomatic assault weapons. Gun homicides fell by 8 percent the following year, marking the first drop in 13 years,... (GunPolicy.org)
