Bolsonaro has given the green light to a proposal that would allow gun ownership, according to a newspaper.
According to information published by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, Bolsonaro's green light was reported by members of the Parliamentary Front for Public Security, popularly known as the "Bullet Caucus," and discussions among parliamentarians have already begun.
Sputnik - President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) has given his approval for the proposal to liberalize gun ownership in Brazil to move forward in the National Congress starting in February, according to information published by the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper this Monday.
According to the publication, Bolsonaro's approval was reported by members of the Parliamentary Front for Public Security, popularly known as the "Bullet Caucus," and discussions among parliamentarians have already begun.
Speaking to the newspaper, federal deputy Capitão Augusto (PR-SP), who is also the president of the "Bullet Caucus," revealed that the group will hold a meeting this Wednesday to define some goals, in an effort to build a consensus on how to bring the issue to the plenary session.
Initially, the caucus's idea is to take advantage of the bill already in progress, authored by federal deputy Rogério Peninha (MDB-SC), which revokes the Disarmament Statute. Reconciling the issue within the caucus itself, which has 240 members, is one of the challenges.
The publication also states that the proposal to liberalize gun ownership – which means authorizing people to carry weapons in public spaces, currently restricted to security forces – could be brought to the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies by the middle of this year, when it is expected that the Pension Reform will already be approved.
A few days ago, the Bolsonaro government claimed to have fulfilled a campaign promise by modifying the criteria for gun ownership – allowing weapons to be kept inside the home – in Brazil. The measure has not garnered consensus among experts, who doubt its effectiveness in public safety.
The president's inauguration decree, however, disappointed many of his voters who hoped to have free rein to carry weapons in the streets. The pro-gun lobby is also likely to exert pressure, since, according to Captain Augusto, measures requested by the Minister of Justice, Sérgio Moro, such as changes to the Penal Execution Law, would only be voted on after the pension reform and the authorization to carry weapons.