Brazil judge suspends easing of gun laws, citing election violence fears
Issued on: 06/09/2022 - 00:56
1 min
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Monday temporarily suspended several provisions implemented by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro that allowed people to buy weapons, citing a "risk of political violence" during the electoral campaign.
"The start of the election campaign exacerbates the risk of political violence," which "makes the need to restrict access to weapons and ammunition extremely and exceptionally urgent," Justice Edson Fachin wrote. Fachin said he made the decision "in light of recent and unfortunate episodes of political violence."
He did not specify whether he was referring to local events, such as the July shooting of a Workers' Party (PT) treasurer by a Bolsonaro-supporting police officer, or the attempted assassination in neighboring Argentina Thursday of the Vice President Cristina Kirchner.
According to the court, Fachin's decision establishes that only "people who concretely demonstrate an effective need" can have weapons, one of the rules that Bolsonaro, an enthusiastic backer of gun ownership, had relaxed by decree.
More:
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220905-brazil-judge-suspends-easing-of-gun-laws-citing-election-violence-fears
