The number of people with firearms registration certificates increased almost seven times during the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government. The data are from the Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security, based on information from the Army, and consider records for hunter, sport shooter and collector (CAC) activities.
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Data
In 2018, before Bolsonaro took over, the number of people with CAC records was 117,500. That is, 56 Brazilians out of every 100,000 had a firearms license. Now there are 783,400. This means that, for every 100,000 people, 386 have authorization. This most recent number for 2022 represents an increase of 37% compared to 2021. In practice, this means that Brazil gained more than 211,000 gun registration certificates in one year.
Increase Was Not Organic
Researchers from the Brazilian Public Security Forum point out that this increase was not organic, but rather artificial and stimulated through a series of regulatory incentives.
Some incentives for gun purchase:
In 2017, still during the government of Michel Temer (MDB), the transit figure was created. The measure allowed CACs to go from the places where their collections were to shooting clubs or hunting places with a loaded weapon ready for use. This measure attracted a lot of people, especially people who couldn’t get the possession of weapons for self-defense through the Federal Police and who saw in this novelty an opportunity to circulate armed through the streets. Already during the Bolsonaro government (PL), in decrees issued in 2019, the government modified the classification of calibers to allow the population to acquire weapons that were restricted to use by security forces and military. In addition, the limit of weapons and ammunition that could be acquired has been increased exponentially.
Consequence
The consequence, according to the researchers, was 4 years of increase in the number of CAC, weapons in circulation, the number of shooting clubs and gun stores, in addition to the amount of ammunition in circulation, while investment in inspection and control was non-existent.
