Brazil rejects ban on gun sales

good news for Brazil...banning guns never works...and only makes things worse...

Brazil rejects ban on gun sales

BBC | October 23 2005

Partial results in a referendum show a clear majority of Brazilians have voted against a ban on gun sales.

With 90% of the votes counted, 64% rejected the ban and only 36% wanted firearm sales to the public outlawed.

The proposal to ban gun sales was backed by the government and the United Nations, in a country where there were 36,000 gun-related deaths last year.

The "No" camp made a late surge, saying a ban would leave Brazilians defenceless against armed criminals.

Guns kill one person in Brazil roughly every 15 minutes, giving it the world's highest death toll from firearms.

The UN says guns are the biggest cause of death among young people in the country, leading to more violent deaths than seen in many war zones.

'No confidence'

Anti-gun campaigners said the swing away from a "Yes" vote was the result of people's desire to protest against the government's security policy.

"We didn't lose because Brazilians like guns. We lost because people don't have confidence in the government or the police," Denis Mizne, of anti-violence group Sou da Paz, told Reuters news agency.

They also accused gun makers and lobby groups such as the US National Rifle Association (NRA) of manipulating people's fears.

But politician Alberto Fraga, who led the congressional lobby against the ban, said opposition was "a reaction to the attempt to take a right away from the citizen".

The referendum has been watched closely by other countries where gun-ownership is under debate.

In Washington, an NRA spokesman called the result "a victory for freedom".

Millions of guns

The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Sao Paulo says voting - compulsory for Brazilians - was brisk throughout the day.

Those most likely to vote for the ban were thought to be women and poorer Brazilians, while the strongest opposition came from middle-class men, he says.

Under existing laws, any Brazilian over 25 can buy a gun, provided they pass background checks.

The referendum rounds off a series of campaigns run by the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to cut down on gun crime.

Penalties for unlawfully carrying a gun have been increased and money offered to people who surrender their weapons in amnesties.

The proposal to ban firearms initially had strong public support.

But opinion polls in recent days showed this backing had weakened dramatically as campaigns against the ban got off the ground.

The gun ownership lobby argued that citizens need the weapons to guard against a soaring crime rate.

Some opposition to the ban also came from shantytowns, or favelas, the scene of vicious turf wars between drug gangs.

Maria, a shantytown resident whose sister was gunned down by an ex-boyfriend, said disarmament would make little difference.

"If I had the money, I would have a weapon to try to protect myself and my family," she told the BBC. "The police are never going to arrive in time and if they do, they may kill you."

There are estimated to be more than 17 million guns in Brazil, nine million of which are not registered, according to a survey by non-governmental groups.

3 Cheers For the Citizens of Brazil! Banning guns will only do one thing, let criminals know there arent any guns in the house they are about to break into

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tholiak

3 Cheers For the Citizens of Brazil! Banning guns will only do one thing, let criminals know there arent any guns in the house they are about to break into

---

You got that right

i concur

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nicholasstanko

i concur

---

DAMN...that makes twice you've been right now. Your on a roll dude!! :thumbsup: