Bolsonaro, who has often urged his supporters to arm themselves or risk being “enslaved,” has said guns make Brazil safer, pointing to a lower murder rate during his time in office.
There are now nearly 800,000 registered gun owners in Brazil, up from 117,467 in 2018, when Bolsonaro was elected, according to the 2023 Brazilian Public Safety Yearbook.
Bolsonaro fueled gun culture by easing restrictions on “hunters, shooters, or collectors” (CACs), making it easier for people to register for those permits and store guns.
Lula’s decree reduced access to firearms for that group.
For example, a registered hunter, who previously could own up to 30 weapons, half of which could be restricted fire, will now only be able to own six. They will also have access to fewer bales and will need authorization from environmental protection agency Ibama.
Lula also handed over responsibility for civilian arms control from the army to the federal police. The military was criticized for poor oversight, incomplete databases, poor transparency, and poor information sharing with law enforcement.