Bolsonaro's support base, CACs (Collectors, Shooters, and Hunters), register more than 1 million firearms after the government's 'general release' of firearms.

247 - The rampant arms race fueled by the loosening of rules restricting civilian access to firearms, promoted by the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government, has practically tripled the number of registered weapons held by hunters, sport shooters, and collectors (CACs), one of the main bases of support for Bolsonarism. 

According to G1The arsenal held by CACs (Collectors, Shooters, and Hunters) has grown by 187% since the end of 2018, increasing from 350,6 to 1.006.725 registered units in July of this year. On average, 449 people obtain a license to use weapons in the country every 24 hours.

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According to military data on the subject, the arsenal of over 1 million firearms – ranging from revolvers to repeating rifles – is registered in the names of 673,8 CACs (Collectors, Shooters, and Hunters). The loosening of legislation on the subject by the Bolsonaro government allowed civilians registered as shooters, for example, to acquire up to 60 firearms, 30 of which were restricted weapons, such as repeating rifles. 

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Hunters are allowed to own up to 15 high-caliber, high-powered firearms. There is no limit to the number of weapons collectors can own. 

“This explosion of weapons is very worrying when we know that the Army has not invested in oversight. And this is happening at a time in our country when we see almost 700 armed people (the CACs) at risk of using these weapons at a sensitive moment in our country, when we are in a polarized election campaign,” said Carolina Ricardo, from the Sou da Paz Institute.

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