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Graphic shows homicide rates in Brazil, and details of decree.
GN38707EN

BRAZIL

Bolsonaro loosens gun laws in Brazil, world murder capital

By Mike Tyler

January 16, 2019 - President Jair Bolsonaro has signed a decree making it easier for many Brazilians to own firearms, delivering on a campaign promise to overturn strict regulations in a nation that leads the world in total homicides.

The decree, which does not require congressional approval, scraps the requirement that Brazilians need to prove their “effective need” to own a firearm. Prospective gun owners must still meet other requirements, such as not having a criminal record, taking a psychological exam, a course at a gun club and being at least 25 years old.

Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world, with a murder rate of over 30 homicides per 100,000 people, compared with around five per 100,000 in the United States, according to Bloomberg News.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 16/01/2019; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Associated Press
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