Brazil Chokes on Gun Control

[Phaedrus]

I wonder what will happen to the murder rate in this already deadly country, now that only the criminals can freely carry ...

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Brazil Gets Sweeping Gun-Control Law

(Associated Press)

BRASILIA, Brazil -- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a
sweeping gun-control law Monday in an effort to rein in what he called
"an epidemic of murder by firearms."

Under the so-called disarmament statute passed Dec. 9 by Congress, only
the armed forces, police, prison guards and private security personnel
can possess firearms in Brazil.

The law was "a landmark for Brazilian democracy," Silva said. "An
important aim of the law is to choke off one of the sources of organized
crime by denying them access to firearms."

According to World Health Organization data, a Brazilian is murdered
every 12 minutes, with more than 90 percent of murders committed with
firearms, the president said.

"This is a disgraceful record for us," Silva said.

Exceptions to the no-guns rule can be made as long as an individual is
at least 25 years old and can prove he needs a weapon "because his
physical integrity is in danger," according to the new law. Gun owners
have 180 days to petition police for such status.

The new law provides for prison sentences of up to four years for
illegal possession of a firearm.

The law also provides for a national plebiscite, set for October, 2005,
in which voters may choose to eliminate all exceptions.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Phaedrus

 

[Phaedrus]

See also:

Issue of the day - Where do YOU stand on the issue of "Gun Control" and why?

Make Your Next Spree a Stabbing Spree, not a Shooting One, Please.


Phaedrus

 

[WildBill]

The thing is that you are talking about a country where there isn't much gun ownership like in the US, that it has been illegal to have one many times in their history. Crime is rampant to start with, I don't think this law will lead to any additional crime as the criminals truly do have most of the non-military guns in possession today. You can't compare the US to Brazil because the attitude towards guns is so different and the way the police operates is as well. It probably will do some good for the interim, it will make it easy for the police to make arrests. Problem with Brazil though is the prison system is corrupt and overcrowded and this will only make it worse.

 

[Phaedrus]

WildBill

I'm not really trying to compare brazil to the U.S. However, with this statement Silva is pretty clearly saying that gun crime is a problem in Brazil (which might well be the case)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
According to World Health Organization data, a Brazilian is murdered every 12 minutes, with more than 90 percent of murders committed with
firearms, the president said.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

As I have maintained in both of the above-linked threads, a key component to gun-related crime is not just the existence of a gun, but the existence of criminal intent. Someone who's going to rob, rape or kill you is going to do it (or at least try) at gunpoint, knifepoint, or via whatever means at his disposal. The fact of possession of the gun being illegal is not going to factor into his decision-making process. On the other hand, any law-abiding citizen of Brazil who has up to now considered the best defence for himself or his family to be a firearm, has had that defence removed from the realm of legality. The absence of a so-called "gun culture" in Brazil is irrelevant.

I nan aside, the whole "gun culture" in America is imho a stupid myth in the first place -- what there is here, is an absence of hysterical fealty and faith in the power of the state to govern morality on behalf of the people. Since Americans generally lack that faith in their government, they are considered brutish savages, and those within and without the country who would prefer that we pledge obedience to authority despite centuries' worth of evidence that this is a bad idea create a mythological society obsessed with guns.


Phaedrus

 

[areeff]

your post is rather dogmatic. If you posted something new and insightful it would be worth more than a skim but for now are you are doing is spouting pro-NRA style rhetoric and it appeals to noone except those who already march the party line.

 

[UncleMoneybags]

areeff,

How many firearms do you own? Can you at least agree that owning a firearm would give a criminal pause before he attempted to encroach your property. Phaedrus' post is indicative of the criminal rationale. I am not a member of the NRA but I do support free and easy access to firearms for most individuals. If that access is violated, I would also support the prosecution of those individuals to the fullest extent of the law.

I am viewed by the majority as crazy for carrying a gun with me to most places I go. That craziness of carrying a gun has not morphed my intentions into something sinister as I have yet to pull my gun on anyone (not that I would hesitate if threatened).

 

[Phaedrus]

areef

In what manner is my post "dogmatic?" I posted an AP wire piece regarding new gun control legislation in Brazil, and expressed skepticism as to its potential benefit to the Brazilian people. My logic in that is the same logic that I have used in other gun control discussions, that prohibition laws in general do not work -- this is demonstrably true -- and that with regards to firearms prohibition laws may well endanger more lives than they save -- this is my opinion, which is borne on a pretty logical premise (that criminals who will use firearms to achieve a desired end are unlikely to be dissuaded by firearm prohibition.)

Dogmatic?

I do not follow the NRA with any particular interest, and as such am not familiar enough with their platform to know whether or not my views and theirs are the same, but if they are it is purely a coincidence.



Phaedrus

 

[WildBill]

Most Brazilian families if they felt unsafe wouldn't buy a gun, they would hire an armed guard. These guards look to still be allowed to carry guns. I have a feeling from what I have heard about the size of the private security industry that this might be an attempt at getting some control over it indirectly. Most of the gun murders in the country are committed by drug gangs against each other, people keeping a gun for safety are pretty rare I would guess.