Brazil has the world's highest death rate from firearms. Someone is killed with a gun every 15 minutes. Of the country's estimated 17 million guns, 9 million are not registered. So naturally, the Brazilian government, the Catholic Church, and the United Nations all supported a gun sales ban referendum. Voters did not, defeating the measure with a 64 percent majority. The BBC has more.

The proposal to ban firearms initially had strong public support. But opinion polls in recent days showed this backing had weakened dramatically as campaigns against the ban got off the ground. Some opposition to the ban also came from shanty towns, or favelas, the scene of vicious turf wars between drug gangs. Maria, a shantytown resident whose sister was gunned down by an ex-boyfriend, said disarmament would make little difference.

"If I had the money, I would have a weapon to try to protect myself and my family," she told the BBC. "The police are never going to arrive in time and if they do, they may kill you."

I can't think of any place where I'd more want to have a gun than Brazil, especially Rio. Instead of trying to give predatory criminals a leg up, Brazil needs to continue conservative fiscal reforms, and stanch egregious government corruption.

TECHNORATI TAGS: BRAZIL, GUN SALES BAN, CORRUPTION

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Posted by Matt Rosenberg at October 24, 2005 10:45 AM