Gun politics in Brazil
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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 helped the people decide how to vote in the referendum (see below).
[edit] Referendum
The Brazilian population recently voted overwhelmingly 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 helped the Brazilian people to decide 65% against the banning. The gun ban proposal was massively supported by the private media and pop stars, and drew the attention of international groups such as the NRA.
[edit] Conspiracy
There were widespread rumours and conspiracy theories involving the referendum, namely involving specific groups that could have had an interest in disarming the civilian population, like the media, colombian drug traffickers, the government, foreign governments etc. None of the rumors were ever confirmed and their spread halted after the voting.
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