Stupidity (or is it fear?) is endemic amongst the political classes.
http://wire.ap.org/?FRONTID=CSA
Brazil Authorities Destroy Firearms
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — In a campaign to reduce violence, army and police officers brought thousands of illegal firearms to a park Saturday and crushed them with a steamroller.
Most of the 18,462 guns had been seized from criminals, while others were turned in voluntarily by their owners during antigun campaigns, local media quoted police as saying.
The murder rate in Brazil's biggest city jumped 9 percent last year, to a record 5,705 homicides, according to government statistics. Murder is the No. 3 cause of death in Sao Paulo, after heart attack and stroke.
Brazilians own an estimated 8 million guns, of which only 2 million are legally registered. Most of the unregistered guns are in the hands of criminals, who buy them on a thriving black market.
A bill to outlaw all privately owned firearms in Brazil is currently stalled in Congress. Under the proposed law, only the armed forces, police and private security personnel could possess a firearm. Gun owners would have 360 days to turn in their weapons and ammunition, and would receive $80 for every gun turned in.
Copyright 2000 Associated Press
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited May 07, 2000).]
http://wire.ap.org/?FRONTID=CSA
Brazil Authorities Destroy Firearms
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — In a campaign to reduce violence, army and police officers brought thousands of illegal firearms to a park Saturday and crushed them with a steamroller.
Most of the 18,462 guns had been seized from criminals, while others were turned in voluntarily by their owners during antigun campaigns, local media quoted police as saying.
The murder rate in Brazil's biggest city jumped 9 percent last year, to a record 5,705 homicides, according to government statistics. Murder is the No. 3 cause of death in Sao Paulo, after heart attack and stroke.
Brazilians own an estimated 8 million guns, of which only 2 million are legally registered. Most of the unregistered guns are in the hands of criminals, who buy them on a thriving black market.
A bill to outlaw all privately owned firearms in Brazil is currently stalled in Congress. Under the proposed law, only the armed forces, police and private security personnel could possess a firearm. Gun owners would have 360 days to turn in their weapons and ammunition, and would receive $80 for every gun turned in.
Copyright 2000 Associated Press
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited May 07, 2000).]
