Number of firearms registrations falls 82% in 2023
The number of new firearm registrations for self-defense by Brazilian citizens decreased significantly in 2023, dropping by almost 82 percent compared to the previous year. According to data from the National Weapons System (Sinarm), only 20,822 new firearms were registered for personal defense last year, a stark contrast to the 111,044 registrations recorded in 2022.
According to the Federal Police, this marks the lowest number of firearms registered for self-defense since 2004, when Sinarm recorded only 4,094 registrations.
Pistols lead the list of weapons registered by civilians with the Federal Police, with 14,277 registrations in 2023. They are followed by shotguns (2,309) and rifles (2,215).
In a post shared on his social media accounts this Wednesday (Jan. 3), the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, addressed the decline in firearms registrations among civilians and the simultaneous decrease in the number of intentional lethal violent crimes. He considers this combination to be "very relevant" for the country.
"This proves that it's not the irresponsible proliferation of weapons that reduces crime, but rather well-equipped, technically prepared police forces with proper planning. It's also essential to remember the primary factors for achieving new and sustainable progress: social justice policies, such as full-time schools," he wrote in his post.
More restrictive policy
The decrease in civilian firearm registrations follows the Brazilian government's implementation of measures aimed at disarming the population and reducing violence in the country. In July 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree reducing the number of firearms and ammunition held by civilians. Another decree raised the rates of the Tax on Industrialized Products (IPI) applied to firearms, ammunition, and related items.
In an interview with Agência Brasil, Natália Pollachi, the project manager of the Sou da Paz Institute, explained that the reduction in civilian weapon registrations can be attributed primarily to the more restrictive policy. However, she emphasized that this is not the sole factor to consider. "Certainly, the most influential factor was the regulatory changes we saw last year," she stated.
"The previous government [Jair Bolsonaro] issued a series of decrees and ordinances that significantly eased access to firearms. However, in 2023, on January 1, President Lula issued a new decree suspending new registrations for CACs [Collectors, Sports Shooters, and Hunters]," said Pollachi, highlighting the current government's indication of forthcoming changes in the number of allowed weapons and calibers. These changes were implemented gradually over the course of the year.
