Brazilian Army suspends move to extend gun rights

The Brazilian Army on Wednesday suspended an ordinance that would allow police officers to own up to five semi-automatic rifles and have them at home. The ordinance would take effect on February 1.

In a press statement, the Army said the regulation was suspended to be discussed with the Justice Ministry. The new minister, Ricardo Lewandowski, takes office tomorrow, three weeks before outgoing minister Flávio Dino takes a seat at the Supreme Court.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Dino said he phoned Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro as soon as he heard of the ordinance in order to have it reviewed.

The ordinance would allow state police officers, firefighters, and employees of the Institutional Security Office (GSI) and the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) to own up to five restricted-use firearms, such as semi-automatic rifles. Under the current rules, that number is restricted to two.

A regulation issued last month reduced from six to five the number of restricted-use firearms that both active-duty and retired military can privately own at home. Although the number was reduced, the ordinance authorized them to purchase stronger weapons, such as the semi-automatic AR-15 and T4 rifles. 

The Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration has largely worked to reverse the pro-gun agenda of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

In July 2023, Lula signed decrees reducing the number of guns and ammunition most citizens can own and reinstating restrictions on 9-millimeter firearms and other calibers. Months later, the president reversed tax cuts on firearms enacted during the Bolsonaro administration.

Several police investigations have shown that the Bolsonaro administration’s decrees and lax policies made it much easier for Brazil’s organized crime gangs to obtain guns through legal channels.

Criminal gangs have stolen guns from collectors and sports shooters, or had them as figureheads in order to acquire firearms in their stead.

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