Games with gel guns were popularized in the metropolitan region of Recife and have raised concerns regarding safety and public health.
In just ten days, the Pernambuco Military Police received 110 calls related to the use of gel weapons. According to the Altino Ventura Foundation, a reference hospital for ophthalmology in Recife, between November 30th and December 10th, 2024, 60 visits were recorded for people with eye injuries caused by gunshots.
The number of occurrences has generated an intense debate about the regulation and possible prohibition of the sale of these weapons in Pernambuco.
According to the Altino Ventura Foundation, injuries include scratches on the cornea, internal inflammation and bleeding, which can develop into more serious complications, such as secondary glaucoma. The majority of those injured are between 12 and 18 years old, according to a survey by the philanthropic institution.
In a note to CNN the Pernambuco Social Defense Secretariat highlighted the lack of regulation on the topic, which makes more effective actions to prevent damage difficult. Although there are no specific laws prohibiting the purchase and use of gel guns, their use in public spaces has generated confusion and risks.
According to the ministry, in cases of contact to 190 regarding events related to the use of the gel gun, the Military Police will investigate the complaint and verify the crime, be it disturbance of peace, bodily injury, damage or vandalism, among others, those involved They will be taken to the police station so that action can be taken.
“It is not a crime to use the object, but it can become a crime depending on its use. Each case will be analyzed individually and classified according to the corresponding criminal type”, said delegate Mário Melo.
Ordinance No. 302, of 2021, from the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro), states that these weapons are not toys, which contradicts the popular understanding that they are harmless items.
“According to the Disarmament Statute, they must be used with protective equipment and in controlled environments. Which is not happening with gel guns. Besides, who is buying these objects for children and teenagers?” asked the delegate, adding that, if there is an infraction, the parents will be held criminally responsible.
Bill
Given this scenario, state deputy Romero Albuquerque (União Brasil) presented a bill that aims to prohibit the sale and use of gel weapons in Pernambuco.
According to the parliamentarian, the objective is to combat the trivialization of violence associated with the use of these weapons and reduce the risks to public safety. “Here in Pernambuco, the sale of toys that imitate weapons is already prohibited by law, and now I am proposing to expand this prohibition to include gel weapons. It is not a toy when it affects people’s safety and encourages dangerous behavior”, commented the deputy.
While the bill awaits processing, the secretariat says it has intensified educational and preventive actions. The Deputy Director of Operational Planning of the PM, Colonel Mário Canel, highlighted the importance of mobilization.
“We will work, through the School Patrol, to raise awareness among parents and guardians. The whole of society needs to get involved, including the guardianship councils, so that it is understood that the artifact is not a toy”, he explained.
This content was originally published in Games with gel guns leave 60 injured in the metropolitan region of Recife on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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