Powerful Evangelic Caucus Organizes to Repeal Bolsonaro’s Arms Decree

By Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Deputies, belonging to the powerful evangelic caucus (Bancada evangélica) of the Chamber are organizing to repeal the decree signed by President Jair Bolsonaro that eased gun laws.

The issue of weaponry is one of the most important points of contention between the religious members of the legislature and the government.

With 195 registered deputies, the caucus was instrumental in electing Bolsonaro.

PSOL, PT, and Rede have already put forward plans for bills that would fully repeal the measure.

Evangelic deputies, however, are not looking to support the initiatives of left-wing parties, but rather present their bill, if it comes to it.

The caucus has not yet issued a formal ruling on the matter. One of the government’s deputy leaders in the Chamber, however, believes that the defeat of the measure is a serious risk for the government, given the strength of the evangelic caucus.

The Evangelical Parliamentary Front, or simply Bancada Evangélica, is a term applied to a parliamentary front of the Brazilian National Congress composed of evangelical politicians from different political parties.

The Bancada Evangélica fights against gender equality, abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage. They are opposing the criminalization of violence and discrimination against gays, bisexuals and transsexuals, and physical punishment imposed by parents to their children.

The group also attempts to overturn resolutions of the Federal Council of Psychology (CFP) that prevent psychologists from treating homosexuality as a disease.