Gun politics in Brazil

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Gun politics
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All firearms in Brazil are required to be registered with the state. The minimum age for ownership is 25 and it is generally illegal to carry a gun outside a residence. The total number of firearms in Brazil is thought to be around 17 million.

Over 38,000 people die each year due to gun-related injuries nationwide. The vast majority of the crimes is committed with illegally possessed guns; this may have inclined the result of the Referendum (see below).

[edit] Referendum

Main article: Referendum concerning the prohibition of the sale of firearms and ammunition

The majority of Brazilian population, in 2005, voted against banning the sale of guns and ammunition to civilians in a referendum. Voting was compulsory for people between the ages of 18 and 70. The low efficiency of police, high levels of use of illegal weapons in crimes, and increasing power of criminal organizations (like PCC) are some factors that may have influenced Brazilian people to decide 65% against the ban. The gun ban proposal received mixed support in the press, while celebrities were generally in favor, and drew the attention of international groups such as the NRA.