Posted on 05/15/2019 7:11:11 PM PDT by marshmallow
SÃO PAULO, Brazil - A long-time political promise of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to liberalize the country’s gun laws is being opposed by the country’s Catholic bishops.
On May 7, Bolsonaro issued a decree that loosens several licensing restrictions for people who want to carry firearms. The previous legislation established that only members of the security forces and a few related activities - such as officials of the judiciary system - were allowed to possess and carry guns.
Now, the number of professional categories encompassed by the decree is much larger, including truck drivers, crime journalists, and any politician holding office. Also included are people over 25 who live in the countryside. Bolsonaro’s measure means that now almost 20 million people would be allowed to carry firearms in Brazil - about 10 percent of the population.
“If President Bolsonaro continues to pursue such a death-loving agenda, the Catholic Church will oppose him again and again. The main inspiration of the Church was someone who was murdered. It’s not a personal antagonism, but a necessary stand against his project,” said Fernando Altemeyer, a Religious Studies professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo.
A retired Army captain, Bolsonaro gained fame during his almost 30 years in congress as a conservative, pro-gun politician. His 2018 campaign style and rhetoric were reminiscent of U.S. President Donald Trump, who Bolsonaro unabashedly admires.
In his presidential campaign, the relaxation of restrictive gun laws was one of his main proposals. In a country with more than 50,000 homicides a year, many people believe that easier access to guns means more protection.
Meeting during the first 10 days of May, the Brazilian bishops released a public letter addressing the most pressing themes related to the ongoing crisis in the country, including Bolsonaro’s gun policies.
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...
The Catholic Church only wants cops and violent thugs to have guns.
So? I oppose the Catholic Church on immigration...
If the people of Spain had been better armed Torquemada may have had a harder time of it!
New President makes it easier for law-abiding Brazilians to protect themselves from communists, drug dealers and rapists.
Well that’s gay...
Simply false, unless they mean by "carrying guns", allowing people to transport unloaded guns from the home to the range.
The article makes it sound like they can carry on the street, as in the United States.
There’s something wacky about Brazilian Catholics.
Just like any authoritarian group. If people can defend themselves from criminals like say, pedophiles, its not good for the authoritarians. They want free reign to act as they see fit
I see the Powerful still do not want to have the peasants armed:-) I wonder why, NOT!
Maybe the bishops don’t want “parents” armed?
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