Deadline for re-registration of weapons is extended by the government to May 3

The deadline for the re-registration of firearms, which would end on Monday, April 3, was extended to May 3 by the federal government. The decision comes after a request from parliamentarians linked to the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino (PSB).

According to a decree that was published in the Official Gazette of the Union this Wednesday (29), weapons will be “registered in the National Weapons System – Sinarm until May 3, 2023, even if registered in other systems”.

“The general director of the Federal Police may establish a special procedure for the presentation of weapons, motivated by logistical and security issues. The aforementioned special procedure may provide for the presentation of weapons to the Federal Police teams in a place other than the respective police stations”, states the document.

The re-registration is part of a policy of greater control over the circulation of weapons in the country. Data obtained by the Sou da Paz and Igarapé institutes through the Access to Information Law revealed that the number of weapons in private collections in Brazil (those that do not belong to public bodies) more than doubled in the last five years – in 2018, the total was 1.3 million guns in private collections and is currently close to 3 million.

On the last March 20, the ministry had informed that of the 762,365 weapons registered in the Military Weapons Management System (Sigma), maintained by the Army, 613,834 had already been re-registered. About 81% of the total. At the time, Dino had stated that he would not postpone the deadline for re-registration, however, he gave in to the parliamentarians.

The growth in the number of guns in the country occurred during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) who facilitated the rules for civilian access to this type of equipment.

Private collections include guns from hunters, sport shooters and collectors (CACs), self-defense registered citizens, subsistence hunters; civil servants (such as police and civil guards) who have the right to carry and who have purchased weapons for personal use; members of military institutions (military police, military firefighters) who purchased weapons for personal use.

Number of weapons re-registered exceeds previous registrations

During a session of the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ) held on Tuesday in the Chamber of Deputies, minister Flávio Dino was invited to answer questions about gun control policy. In his speech, Dino highlighted that the number of guns re-registered surpassed the guns that were registered in the country, but he did not mention numbers.

“The re-registration is to separate the wheat from the chaff. We have more guns re-registered than registered. Those who said that we wanted to register to confiscate weapons, we are contributing so that those who were illegally come under the light of the law”, said the minister, when participating in a hearing of the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) of the Chamber of Deputies.

Regarding the gun control policy, responding to the arguments about the use of weapons, Dino said that the reduction in crime indicators has no connection with the population’s weapons, and he said it was the result of police action.

“Are there serious gunsmiths in Brazil? Yes of course. I think they are the vast majority. But Jesus Christ recruited 12 and one sold himself, Judas. So, at these times, none of the propagators of armamentism will say that all those who have a CAC record, for example, have wings and are angels. One or the other escapes, unfortunately. What have these evil figures been up to? Instead of going there and taking a shot that people like and can take, they are selling guns to the PCC and the Comando Vermelho. It exists. Let’s close the doors to the commission of crimes, ”he said.

How does reregistration work?

The registration of weapons is done in two systems, Sigma, which registers weapons on behalf of the CACs, maintained by the Army, and Sinarm (National Weapons System), maintained by the PF, which registers civilian weapons, among others. they: weapons from private security companies, civil police, municipal guards and individuals authorized to possess or carry them.

The current re-registration, which began in February, is being carried out by the PF and intends to condense all information on civilian weapons in Sinarm, including those that remain in the Army’s database. The determination made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva suspends registrations for the acquisition and transfer of weapons and ammunition for restricted use by CACs.

According to the federal government, people with guns who do not re-register may be subject to sanctions, such as the seizure of weapons. Furthermore, people who decide not to have any more weapons can hand them in at one of the disarmament campaign collection points, which must be consulted.

After completion of the process, a proposal for a new decree with rules on the acquisition of weapons, obtaining ownership or possession and operation of shooting clubs must be presented to the President of the Republic for greater regulation of weapons to the population.