- Title: Gun control vs gun rights. Firearms access sparks election debate in Brazil
- Date: 15th September 2022
- Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (FILE - MARCH 14, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOTHER WITH DEAD SON WHO IS IN COFFIN
- Embargoed: 30th September 2022 00:41
- Keywords: Bolsonaro Brazil Lula gun advocacy gun violence
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime,South America / Central America
- Reuters ID: LVA00A571015092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
Gun access has become an election issue in Brazil, with President Jair Bolsonaro touting guns as a way to combat crime in the country.
His rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that if elected he will not issue new decrees aimed at further easing the use of guns in the country.
The debate on gun access comes after an increase in gun-related deaths by 34 percent in 2021, according to the Mortality Information Service (SIM) from the Ministry of Health.
SIM also stated that there was a 13 percent decrease in the total number of homicides last year, from 41,354 in 2021 compared to 47,680 in 2020.
Some say the drop in the number of homicides could be greater if Brazil had a more pro-arms policy in place. While others warn against widespread ownership of firearms.
President Jair Bolsonaro has used the issue as part of his re-election platform.
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