The gun control campaign is gaining popular support across the country. Civil society organizations have rallied behind the Disarmament Statute, new legislation that would severely restrict firearms availability and control misuse in Brazil. NGOs throughout the country have demonstrated the effectiveness of working together as a network, organizing widely attended demonstrations in support of the new law. Information sharing and working together to optimize contacts with the media and government officials have shown positive results: not only was the law passed in Congress on 23/10 by an overwhelming majority, but public opinion polls show that the majority of Brazilians are in favour of radical changes to Brazil’s permissive gun laws.

Brazilians want a Gun Free Brazil

The first march was organized on 14/09 by Viva Rio on Copacabana beach. Despite the cold rain, 50,000 participants gathered that day. Following the structure of a carnival parade, the march was divided into groups: victims of gun violence, law enforcement forces, members of the justice system, and a special group with actors from the highly popular local sit-com “Women in love” , with full support and broadcasting by the TV Network Globo.

The success of the Rio march triggered similar initiatives in the country. 5,000 people demonstrated for peace in Aracaju (SE) on 04/10. Organized by the Sociedade Semear and the State Secretary of Justice and Citizenship with support from numerous non-governmental and governmental institutions, the march counted with the presence of congressman Luiz Eduardo Greenhalgh (PT-SP), local Mayor, Marcelo Déda, and many more federal and state representatives, from all political parties

In Recife (PE), the march called “Gun free Brasil – Pernambuco stands for peace” gathered 25,000 people on a Sunday afternoon (06/10). It was organized by the Cidade Cidadão movement as well as by Viva Rio, with support form the state government, and counted with the presence of victims, congressmen and famous artists.

On Tuesday 21/10 3,000 more gathered in the capital city, Brasília (DF), on the eve of the voting of the Bill of law by the Commission of Constitution and Justice to pressure congress to approve the text. 2,000 crosses were brought to the presidential palace as a symbol for the number of lives lost to gun-related violence since the approval of the text by Senate.

In São Paulo (SP) a symbolic act to remember victims of gun violence, organized by the NGO Sou da Paz, was held on the 24th of October. At dusk, 9,969 candles– the number of gun deaths in the three months that the legislation has been stalled in Congress – were lit to demonstrate the urgency of final approval of the law.

Yet another march was held on 30/10 in Maceio (AL), the home state of Senator Renan Carlheiros, author of the original text of the Disarmament Statute. The following day, a public event is being organized in Curitiba. Other cities in Brazil, including Vitória, Salvador, Porto Alegre, and Manaus have also said they will organize events in support of the Disarmament Statute.

Supporting the Disarmament Statute

Brazilian NGOs also worked together to provide a steady stream of reliable and up-to-date information to the media and to government officials. NGOs advice was solicited in drafting the Disarmament Statute. Viva Rio and Sou da Paz produced factsheets to counter the gun lobby’s most common arguments against tighter gun laws. NGOs circulated an expert sign-on letter in support of the new law, as well as suggestions for amendments to further improve the Disarmament Statute.

According to a recent survey conducted by IBOPE (18-22 October, 2003) with 2,000 citizens in 147 Brazilian cities, 80% of the surveyed are in favor of a ban on gun sales for civilians and 65% believe that the measures of the Disarmament Statute could contribute to reducing gun violence.

Approved by Senate at the end of July, the Statute was disfigured in one Congressional Commission and then restored in another in October. The legislation passed with 275 votes against 18 in the House of Representatives. Final approval must now be obtained in the Senate, and the bill signed by President Luiz Inacio da Silva (Lula) before the bill becomes law.

For more information please go to: www.desarme.org , or e-mail: infodesarme@desarme.org