Violence-Plagued Brazil Says No to Gun Control in Referendum

Brazilians are voting Sunday on a proposal to ban all gun sales in the country. Polls show the proposal heading for a likely defeat despite gun violence that claims the lives of more than 36,000 Brazilians each year.

Supporters of the ban seemed headed for an easy win until about three weeks ago, when opponents, including weapons-makers, began an aggressive media campaign.

Opponents of the ban say average Brazilians need guns to protect themselves from drug gangs and thieves. Supporters say the ban is needed to bring down the death toll from firearms.

Brazil’s Health Ministry says gun homicides have already fallen eight percent in the past year thanks to a gun-control campaign launched in 2003.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says Brazil’s murder rate of 21.7 per 100,000 people a year is the second-highest in the world, behind Venezuela’s.

VoA

Tags:

You May Also Like

IMF managing director, Rodrigo Rato

IMF Tells Lula He Dramatically Changed Brazil for Good

The International Monetary Fund praised the performance and management of the Brazilian economy during ...

Best-seller Books, Plays and Movies

(*Before Cardoso) The public sector has played a crucial role in Brazil’s economic development. ...

Brazilian writer Milton Hatoum

Celebrated Writer Milton Hatoum Brings the Arab Out of Brazil

Brazilians are having more contact with the Arab culture in recent years, especially with ...

Brazil Boosts Overseas Promotion Tenfold to Double Foreign Tourism

Brazil is going to invest US$ 120 million in the international promotion of Brazil ...

Brazilian Diplomats From Around the World End Crash Course on Brazil Agribusiness

Twenty three diplomats participating in the Brazilian Agribusiness Immersion Program over the last two ...

Carioca Fernanda has won Brazil

After being the disco queen for a generation of teens in the 80’s Fernanda ...

Brazil Maps Banana Genome and Vows to Save Fruit from Extinction

Genetic improvement has reached bananas. The results of the first phase of the Banana ...

This Brazilian Is a Jewel Designer to Sheikhs and Top Models

In love with Arab culture, the source for inspiration of her creations, Brazilian jewelry ...

Brazil Central Bank Expecting Bad News on Inflation Front

The Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) of Brazil’s Central Bank (BC) is less optimistic than ...

Broadcasters Favor Japanese Format for Digital TV in Brazil

The discussion on what digital TV format to use in Brazil continues. Radio and ...