The Brazilian authorities have collected 22,200 firearms through the disarmament plan relaunched four months ago, that country’s Justice Ministry announced. “We want to collect as many as possible; the more, the better,” Justice Minister José Cardozo said.
The Brazilian authorities have collected 22,200 firearms through the disarmament plan relaunched four months ago, that country’s Justice Ministry announced. “We want to collect as many as possible; the more, the better,” Justice Minister José Cardozo said.
The ministry announced that approximately 10,828 revolvers, 7,600 pistols, and 3,734 long guns were recovered. The total comes to 20 more than the total turned in between January and May.
The Brazilian states that had the best results were Sao Paulo (5,349), Rio Grande do Sul (2,641), Rio de Janeiro (2,602), Pernambuco (1,776), and Minas Gerais (1,572).
The Government indemnifies individuals who turn weapons in to the authorities, for which purpose it has available a fund of $6.25 billion, of which $2 billion has been used.
Between 1997 and 2008, the Army destroyed more than 1.8 million firearms, according to a study by a private NGO, which revealed that at least 8 million more guns are in the hands of civilians, security forces, and criminals.