"Change gives more transparency to the granting of possession of firearms," ​​says SC Secretary of Security

President Jair Bolsonaro signed Tuesday (15) the decree facilitating the possession of arms in the country. In the badessment of Colonel Araújo Gomes, Secretary of Public Security of Santa Catarina, the new rules (19659003) establish objective criteria.

– The legislation until then was more subjective, this change gives more transparency to the act of concession and we think that it is positive – said the colonel.

In addition, Araújo Gomes considers that an innovation is the criterion allowing possession. to residents of units of the federation that have had more than ten homicides per hundred thousand inhabitants in 2016, according to data from the Atlas of Violence 2018 – in practice, are all Brazilian states.

The Secretary understands that the possession of a weapon represents the exercise of a right, provided that the rules are respected and that the citizens are informed of the responsibility incumbent upon them to possess a weapon. weapon at home.

However, one point concerns the colonel: legal weapons fall into the hands of criminals. With more legal weapons in circulation, the possibilities of theft, theft or illegal trade increase.

To avoid this, reinforces Araújo Gomes, it will be necessary to control the concession criteria, the responsibility of those who buy weapons and the work of the Public Security in the field of education and training. ;inspection.

On a possible increase in the number of firearm deaths, the colonel says that there is no scientific consensus and is observing other issues that he considers more important.

– Some studies indicate that a larger number of firearms breed more crimes, and others that more weapons equals fewer crimes. There is no consensus. There is every indication that a culture of peace, social control and other factors have more influence on crime than the availability of weapons – this should be emphasized.

The secretary highlights the figures for the first 14 days of 2019, which he admits are not a historical series: 43% of homicides in Santa Catarina were firearms, 40% with knives , 10% with blunt instruments and 3%. strangulation. And he concludes that "more than half of the homicides did not need a firearm".