Bolsonaro Preparing Decrees to Ease Access to Firearms

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Speaking with supporters who were waiting for him outside the Alvorada Palace, Bolsonaro said there was record growth in arms sales, but stressed that the increase needs to be more robust. “We set a record last year, compared to 2019. Over 90% in arms sales. It’s still little, it needs to increase more. The good citizen was disarmed a long time ago,” he said.

The president was asked by a supporter about new decrees and replied that he should publish the guidelines later this week. “There are three decrees coming out. I think two or three decrees will come out this week. I can’t overstep the law, it will make things easier for you,” he said.

Involved in the dispute to promote allies in the election to renew the leadership of Congress in February, Bolsonaro raised the subject to supporters. He said that the processing of the bill he intends to pass on the subject will depend on the next Chamber president. Bolsonaro endorses deputy Arthur Lira (PP-AL), head of the Centrão (Center party bloc). Lira’s main opponent is Baleia Rossi (MDB-SP).

The president ended by saying to one of his supporters who introduced himself as a trucker that, were it to solely depend on the Chief Executive, the teamsters would have “been carrying a gun a long time ago”.

The video with the statements was published on a Bolsonarist YouTube channel. Bolsonaro greeted followers, posed for pictures with allies and did not address Covid-19 during the interaction, although the country has recorded over 200,000 deaths from the disease. Moreover, the government has been criticized for the delay in starting the vaccination campaign. The President and supporters seen on the video were not wearing masks.

The government has been adopting a number of measures to expand access to firearms for ordinary people. According to the President, the population is safer when its citizens are armed.

One of the most controversial measures was the repeal of three Army ordinances that, in practice, prevented organized crime from gaining access to ammunition and weapons misplaced from police forces.