Brazil’s president relaxes restrictions on gun possession

Americas Now

Gun clubs in Brazil have reported a surge in interest ever since Jair Bolsonaro was elected President in October of 2018. He was a long-time member of the so-called bullet caucus of pro-gun lawmakers in the Brazilian Congress.

One of Bolsonaro’s core campaign promises was to make it easier for citizens to own weapons. But critics of any change in legislation are fearful. They argue there’s clear evidence more guns lead to more murders and are calling the President’s policy reckless.

Brazil recorded 64,000 murders in 2017. That’s three times higher than the level the United Nations classifies as endemic violence.

Correspondent Stephen Gibbs tells us more from Sao Paulo.