Organizers hope that the massive mobilization will push Congress to vote and approve new gun legislation known as the Disarmament Statute. Gun law reforms have been on the national agenda since 1999, but the powerful gun lobby has successively blocked passage of various bills. This time, the proposed law was approved quickly in the Senate in July, but later lost its emergency status for a quick vote in Congress. “If public opinion does not keep up the pressure on elected officials, the Statute runs the risk of not being voted this year,” warns Rubem César Fernandes, Executive Director of Viva Rio.

Fiction mixes with reality as TV stars on “Women in Love” discuss Sunday´s event following the death of one character killed by a stray bullet. In real life, Brazil’s Minister of Justice, the Secretary of Public Security, the Governor of Rio, and other representatives of government will join community associations, civil society organizations, actors and singers, religious leaders, students, and others to send a clear message to the capital city Brasília: Congress must take urgent action reduce gun violence.

With over 40,000 gun deaths last year alone, the country has one of the highest gun death rates in the world, according to the UN. Few residents of large cities in Brazil can say that they themselves or someone they know has not been touched by armed violence.

Gun victims and their families will head up the march, which will be organized along the lines of a Carnaval parade, with sections called alas. Subsequent alas will represent the various sectors of society affected by violence, including journalists, bus drivers, the elderly, businesses, as well as supporters from other parts of the country. People wishing to turn over registered guns can do so at the rally.

The Disarmament Statute would make it illegal to carry firearms, as well impose a series of restrictions for those who wish to purchase them. The Statute also establishes October 2005 as the date for a national referedum to decide whether gun sales shouls be banned outright for civilians. Gun control advocates say they are optimistic about the possibility of achieving the ban, citing a recent survey by Instituto Sensus that reveals that 63.6% of Brazilians are in favor of such a measure. Supporters also believe that a plebiscite would foment a real public debate on the impacts of the gun proliferation and misuse on urban violence in Brazil.

According to research by the São Paulo-based Instituto Brasileiro de Ciências Criminais (Brazilian Institute for Criminal Sciences), gun users have a 56% higher chance of being killed in an armed robbery than victims without guns. Viva Rio believes that the Disarmament Statute will be un unquestionable improvement over the current gun laws, and a more efficient policy to control illicit traffic and proliferation of small arms in the country.

The attached document provides more information on the Disarmament Statute.


March for a Gun Free Brazil
Date: 14 September
Local: Copacabana beach
Time: Concentration begins at 10:00 a.m. in front of Posto 5/ March begins at 11:00 a.m./End in front of Praça do Lido.