Gun ownership debate heats up in Brazil

An intense debate over easing restrictions on private gun ownership has erupted in Brazil, sparked by a 15 February presidential decree in which President Jair Bolsonaro expanded gun rights in several critical areas.

The new rules allow owners to keep more guns in their homes, and stockpile more ammunition, it also expanded the types of weapons allowed for private citizens, with more powerful automatic weapons now available.

Hunters can now buy up to 30 guns each and sports shooters up to 60.

Brazil has seen a surge in weapons imports since the Bolsonaro Administration began relaxing rules over gun ownership 2 years ago.

Many anti-gun activists are appalled by the loosening of the restrictions, saying allowing more weapons in one of the world's most violent countries will only invite more mayhem.

"For us, gun control is key to both public security and democracy in the country," says Ilona Szabo, director of the Igarapé think tank Institute

But Eduardo Barzana, a gun enthusiast, says the criticism is overblown believes it will not increase the violence.

Polls show that about 73% of Brazilians want strict gun control laws and that Bolsonaro's gun policies are widely unpopular, except with his evangelical and conservative base.

With an election year looming in 2022, and a rising death toll from Covid, due to reach 250,000 within days, Bolsonaro appears to be searching for ways to distract from criticism over the Federal Government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis, including a shortfall of vaccines, say critics.

Brazil's Congress must approve the latest presidential decrees relaxing gun laws, leaving some doubt as to whether the new gun policy will last.