Bolsonaro loosens gun laws in Brazil

President Jair Bolsonaro has signed a decree making it easier for many Brazilians to own firearms, delivering on a campaign promise to overturn strict regulations in a nation that leads the world in total homicides


Jair Bolsonaro: Decree scraps requirement for Brazilians to prove “effective need” to own firearm

30.8 Brazil’s overall homicide rate (compared with five per 100,000 people in U.S.*)

63,880 Total homicides in 2017 (equal to 175 deaths per day) – likely highest in world


HOMICIDE RATES IN BRAZIL, 2017

Murders per 100,000 people
60-70
45-59.9
30-44.9
15-29.9
0-14.9

*U.S. figure for 2015 – most recent year for which data is available


Acre
Rio Grande do Norte
Federal District (Brasília)
Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo

800km 500 miles


Prospective gun owners
Must be at least 25 years old, take training course at gun club, undergo psychological exam and not have criminal record

Firearm registration: Renewal period extended from five to 10 years. Number of guns owned per person
increased from two to four 

Security: Gun owners required to have safe with key in any home with children, adolescents or person with mental disability

Carrying guns in public
Remains illegal for most civilians. Bolsonaro and so-called “Bullet Caucus” in Congress plan legislative push to overturn this


Sources: Associated Press, BBC, New York Times 
Picture: Associated Press 
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