Rio de Janeiro gunbattles add to violence worries

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

Rio de Janeiro gunbattles add to violence worries

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Let's hope and pray it doesn't... but, in all likelihood it will at some point as long as wickedness and lawlessness is given place to thrive in societies.

salesortonscom · Wise and Revered Master

Brazil has some of the strictest firearms laws in the world:

"Since 1936 all firearms must be registered. No handguns with
ammunition more powerfull than .38 Special (9mm Short for pistols)
are allowed for civilians. Rifles and carbines are only allowed if they
fire handgun ammunition (the only center fire rifle cartridge allowed
is the vintage .44-40 WCF).
No center fire semi-automatic long gun (rifled or smooth bore) is
permited. Black powder muzzle loading guns are considered
firearms like any other and subject to the same rules.
A Brazilian citizen must not have, at any given time, more than two
handguns, two rifled long guns and two shotguns. Only shooters or
collectors registered within the Brazilian Army may have more guns
than this figures.
Citizens are not allowed to buy more than one gun per year.
Reloading is permited only for shooters belonging to a shooting
club and reloadind supplies are strictly controlled by the Brazilian
Army. Only trough the club is possible to buy reloading supplies.
If one is caught with a gun without a permit, it doesn't matter if it
was being carried or just transported (a registered gun unloaded
and locked inside a box, for instance) - it is a crime and one can
face two years in jail for that (four years if it was a forbidden gun).
Permits for transportation must be obtained at the central police
office downtown and it usually takes a week to be ready.
Officialy carry permits do exist, but is very difficult to get one
(there is a black market for concealed carry licences).
Gun stores are not allowed to sell second hand firearms and taxes
on guns sales are the highest in the world (81%).
Waiting periods for registration average 30 days, but in Rio de
Janeiro state it could reach 3 month." Source: Leonardo Arruda Director of the
Brazilian Gun Collectors Assn. (ABCA)

Where did those gangsters get their guns? Obviously they broke the law just having those weapons. But rest assured the police can protect you in Brazil. What are the parents thinking trying to shield their children. There's not problem with criminals and guns there!

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

salesortonscom wrote:

What are the parents thinking trying to shield their children.

I would assume simply a natural reaction as a parent to a sudden, unexpected danger situation.

I remember one time about 14 1/2 years ago visiting family in Las Vegas when we felt an earthquake that hit in California early one Sunday morning. I as sleeping on the floor next to our baby, and when the house shook and woke me up, my first thought was to cover the baby up with my body in case anything fell out of bookcases or broke out of the ceiling.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Yes, I think it's just a matter of time. We've been warned.

arbilad · Head Chef

Obviously they need to install mind readers on every corner and arrest anyone who is thinking of committing a crime! Of course, if the state happens to define your belief set as a crime, then you're out of luck.

salesortonscom · Wise and Revered Master

arbilad wrote:

Obviously they need to install mind readers on every corner and arrest anyone who is thinking of committing a crime! Of course, if the state happens to define your belief set as a crime, then you're out of luck.

Didn't that already happen. Oh, wait, that was a Tom Cruise movie. I have a hard time separating what I see on TV from reality. biggrin

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

lol