Brazil: voting to Ban Gun sales.
- Thread starter Ocean Breeze
- Start date
Yeah. Heard about the vote, but not the results. They had a nationwide referendum in Brazil to ask voters if they wanted to ban civilians from owning handguns.
Well, the people have spoken, so they had their say in this. However, little do they realize that their vote plays right into the hands of the criminals. Criminals in Brazil now know the only armed resistance they will encounter during a crime will be the police. The folks in Brazil will undoubtedly notice an extra presence on the criminal side. The criminal elements in Brazil are most probably rejoicing right now. They are probably planning their next armed jewlery store or home invasion crimes as we speak. I also feel for the police there who's job will now be overburdened with the lack of support form the civilians and extra confidence enjoyed by the criminal elements. Too bad.
Hey wait-a-minute ... I just heard they voted to block the ban. Way to go Brazil. Title of this thread is misleading.
They've used common sense. My hat's off to Brazil!
Read on ...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,173154,00.html
Brazilians Block Gun Ban
Sunday, October 23, 2005
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilians soundly rejected a proposal to ban the sale of guns in a national referendum Sunday, striking down the bid to stem one of the world's highest firearm murder rates following a campaign that drew parallels to the U.S. gun control debate.
Brazil has 100 million fewer citizens than the United States, but a staggering 25 percent more gun deaths at nearly 40,000 a year. While supporters argued that gun control was the best way to staunch the violence, opponents played on Brazilians' fears that the police can't protect them.
"I don't like people walking around armed on the street. But since all the bandits have guns, you need to have a gun at home," said taxi driver Mohammed Osei, who voted against the ban.
With more than 92 percent of the votes counted, 64 percent of Brazilians were opposed to the ban, while 36 percent backed it, said election officials, giving the 'no' position an insurmountable lead.
The proposal would have prohibited the sale of firearms and ammunition except for police, the military, some security guards, gun collectors and sports shooters. It would complement a 2003 disarmament law that sharply restricts who can legally purchase firearms and carry guns in the street.
That law, coupled with a government-sponsored gun buyback program, has reduced deaths from firearms by about 8 percent this year, the Health Ministry said.
But the referendum backfired for proponents. Earlier this year, support for the ban was running as high as 80 percent. But in the weeks before the referendum, both sides were granted free time to present their cases on prime-time TV, and the pro-gun lobby began to grow.
Analysts said the pro-gun lobby benefited from equal time on television in the final weeks of the campaign and that they cannily cashed in on Brazilian skepticism of the police.
"They ask the question: 'Do you feel protected and do you think the government is protecting you?' and the answer is a violent no," said political scientist David Fleischer of the University of Brasilia.
The combination of Brazil's high gun-death rate and the nature of the debate over the right to gun ownership has drawn parallels to the gun debate in the United States.
"The whole campaign (against the ban) was imported from the United States. They just translated a lot of material from the NRA," said Jessica Galeria, a Californian who researches gun violence with the Viva Rio think tank, referring to the National Rifle Association. "Now, a lot of Brazilians are insisting on their right to bear arms, they don't even have a pseudo right to bear arms. It's not in their Constitution."
NRA public affairs director Andrew Arulanandam called the proposal's defeat "a victory for freedom."
"It's a stunning defeat for the global gun control movement. They poured millions of dollars and millions more man hours trying to enact this gun ban and they failed. The aim of this gun ban movement was to use Brazil as the rallying point to enact gun bans in the United States. We're happy they were defeated," he said.
Some Brazilians said they resented the referendum because they feel the government is ducking its responsibility to keep the peace.
"It's immoral for the government to have this vote," said Pedro Ricardo, an army officer in Sao Paulo. "They're putting the responsibility on us, but ... the way to cut down on violence is to combat the drug trade and patrol our borders."
Supporters maintain the referendum is the only way to make Brazil safer.
"We have to change the violence in this country," said Paulo Leite, an engineer from the upscale Ipanema beach district.
About 39,000 people in Brazil are killed by guns each year, compared to about 30,000 people in the United States, although the U.S. population is about 100 million more than Brazil's, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to UNESCO, Brazil ranks second in deaths by guns, with 21.72 per 100,000 people a year. Venezuela has 34.3 gun deaths per 100,000.
But in shantytowns like Vila do Joao, the rate rises to around 150 per 100,000. And for males between 17 and 24, the death rate is closer to 250 per 100,000.
Well, the people have spoken, so they had their say in this. However, little do they realize that their vote plays right into the hands of the criminals. Criminals in Brazil now know the only armed resistance they will encounter during a crime will be the police. The folks in Brazil will undoubtedly notice an extra presence on the criminal side. The criminal elements in Brazil are most probably rejoicing right now. They are probably planning their next armed jewlery store or home invasion crimes as we speak. I also feel for the police there who's job will now be overburdened with the lack of support form the civilians and extra confidence enjoyed by the criminal elements. Too bad.
Hey wait-a-minute ... I just heard they voted to block the ban. Way to go Brazil. Title of this thread is misleading.
They've used common sense. My hat's off to Brazil!
Read on ...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,173154,00.html
Brazilians Block Gun Ban
Sunday, October 23, 2005
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilians soundly rejected a proposal to ban the sale of guns in a national referendum Sunday, striking down the bid to stem one of the world's highest firearm murder rates following a campaign that drew parallels to the U.S. gun control debate.
Brazil has 100 million fewer citizens than the United States, but a staggering 25 percent more gun deaths at nearly 40,000 a year. While supporters argued that gun control was the best way to staunch the violence, opponents played on Brazilians' fears that the police can't protect them.
"I don't like people walking around armed on the street. But since all the bandits have guns, you need to have a gun at home," said taxi driver Mohammed Osei, who voted against the ban.
With more than 92 percent of the votes counted, 64 percent of Brazilians were opposed to the ban, while 36 percent backed it, said election officials, giving the 'no' position an insurmountable lead.
The proposal would have prohibited the sale of firearms and ammunition except for police, the military, some security guards, gun collectors and sports shooters. It would complement a 2003 disarmament law that sharply restricts who can legally purchase firearms and carry guns in the street.
That law, coupled with a government-sponsored gun buyback program, has reduced deaths from firearms by about 8 percent this year, the Health Ministry said.
But the referendum backfired for proponents. Earlier this year, support for the ban was running as high as 80 percent. But in the weeks before the referendum, both sides were granted free time to present their cases on prime-time TV, and the pro-gun lobby began to grow.
Analysts said the pro-gun lobby benefited from equal time on television in the final weeks of the campaign and that they cannily cashed in on Brazilian skepticism of the police.
"They ask the question: 'Do you feel protected and do you think the government is protecting you?' and the answer is a violent no," said political scientist David Fleischer of the University of Brasilia.
The combination of Brazil's high gun-death rate and the nature of the debate over the right to gun ownership has drawn parallels to the gun debate in the United States.
"The whole campaign (against the ban) was imported from the United States. They just translated a lot of material from the NRA," said Jessica Galeria, a Californian who researches gun violence with the Viva Rio think tank, referring to the National Rifle Association. "Now, a lot of Brazilians are insisting on their right to bear arms, they don't even have a pseudo right to bear arms. It's not in their Constitution."
NRA public affairs director Andrew Arulanandam called the proposal's defeat "a victory for freedom."
"It's a stunning defeat for the global gun control movement. They poured millions of dollars and millions more man hours trying to enact this gun ban and they failed. The aim of this gun ban movement was to use Brazil as the rallying point to enact gun bans in the United States. We're happy they were defeated," he said.
Some Brazilians said they resented the referendum because they feel the government is ducking its responsibility to keep the peace.
"It's immoral for the government to have this vote," said Pedro Ricardo, an army officer in Sao Paulo. "They're putting the responsibility on us, but ... the way to cut down on violence is to combat the drug trade and patrol our borders."
Supporters maintain the referendum is the only way to make Brazil safer.
"We have to change the violence in this country," said Paulo Leite, an engineer from the upscale Ipanema beach district.
About 39,000 people in Brazil are killed by guns each year, compared to about 30,000 people in the United States, although the U.S. population is about 100 million more than Brazil's, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to UNESCO, Brazil ranks second in deaths by guns, with 21.72 per 100,000 people a year. Venezuela has 34.3 gun deaths per 100,000.
But in shantytowns like Vila do Joao, the rate rises to around 150 per 100,000. And for males between 17 and 24, the death rate is closer to 250 per 100,000.
Anybody notice when the 'savages' started becoming civilized, and the civilizations began turning savage?
Re: RE: Brazil: voting to Ban
They voted to block the gun ban in a referendum, Andygal. So guns are there to stay. The people have spoken.
Andygal said:
They voted to block the gun ban in a referendum, Andygal. So guns are there to stay. The people have spoken.
Re: RE: Brazil: voting to Ban
indeed :wink: and they have all those wonderful tropical fruits there too.
A classmate of mine spent a few yrs there and loved it.
Andygal said:
indeed :wink: and they have all those wonderful tropical fruits there too.
A classmate of mine spent a few yrs there and loved it.
Re: RE: Brazil: voting to Ban
change (positive) is always slow.......but it (no gun sales) has entered the collective consciousness now. Give them time....
could never understand this thing Americans have about guns... something to do with recapturing the wild wild west??? Some kind of macho symbolism. Deadly "toys."......
Nascar_James said:
change (positive) is always slow.......but it (no gun sales) has entered the collective consciousness now. Give them time....
could never understand this thing Americans have about guns... something to do with recapturing the wild wild west??? Some kind of macho symbolism. Deadly "toys."......
:lol:peapod said:
could well have something to do with masculine deficiency :wink: Phalic symbols and all that. :wink:
...there is nothing wrong with guns.....especially if they are not in the hands of the wrong people....I own quite a few guns here and I use them for hunting and target shooting.....citizens should have the right to own guns if they have no criminal record and are not a threat.....
.....yes Americans do have a high ownership of guns and it is part of their culture....but you forget that Canada does have alot of gun ownership too......mabye not compared to the US but if you look at most European countries and Australia and Japan and much of Asia here in Canada we do have alot of guns.....again its all relative...
and what barometer is used to determine who is the "wrong" people and who isn't???
shag (Brit-slang for Feck :wink: the guy who invented guns and gun powder. :evil:
See what we mean — guns in the wrong hands.Hank C Cheyenne said:
What is more relative, is the direction that we are trying to go with them.Hank C Cheyenne said:
Canadians are doing what they can to restrict gun ownership.
Americans are not only encouraging more gun ownership while hindering attempts to put some sensible limits on ownership, but they are also supporting legislature that will permit them to legally use those guns upon each other.
Such a relationship is called a contrast.
Re: RE: Brazil: voting to Ban
Well you have to admit Ocean, this is a joyous occasion for the Brazilians. They won't have to give up their guns.
They have made their decision the right way. Consulting the population and not simply passing blind legislation that doesn't respect the will of the Brazlian population. Democracy at it's finest.
Ocean Breeze said:
Well you have to admit Ocean, this is a joyous occasion for the Brazilians. They won't have to give up their guns.
They have made their decision the right way. Consulting the population and not simply passing blind legislation that doesn't respect the will of the Brazlian population. Democracy at it's finest.
Re: RE: Brazil: voting to Ban
Oh shag it...NJ.!! How would I KNOW how the Brazilians feel?? And who am I to say what is "Right" or wrong for them???
Democracy is just fine as long as the voters vote in what you want.......isn't it??? sheesh. If it had gone the other way......I can just about hear the condemnation ......from the self righteous right with an over inflated sense of self importance.
Nascar_James said:
Oh shag it...NJ.!! How would I KNOW how the Brazilians feel?? And who am I to say what is "Right" or wrong for them???
Democracy is just fine as long as the voters vote in what you want.......isn't it??? sheesh. If it had gone the other way......I can just about hear the condemnation ......from the self righteous right with an over inflated sense of self importance.