This Sunday, Brazil, the 186 million-person country will become the first in the world to hold a nationwide referendum on banning the sales of guns and bullets to almost all civilians.

The result is anything but certain. A public opinion survey one week ago by the private research firm IBOPE showed that 49 percent of Brazilians oppose a ban and 45 percent support it. Given the survey's 2.2 percentage-point margin of error, the percentages are a statistical tie.

U.S. interest groups on both sides of the gun issue are watching the vote closely.

If the referendum passes, Brazil would be a launching pad for similar campaigns in the United States, said Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association.

"The American gun-control lobby will be energized, but gun owners will be mobilized," he said.

U.S. gun-control advocates could use Brazil as a test case for tighter laws, although not a total ban, said Peter Hamm, a spokesman for the Washington-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which advocates tougher gun restrictions.

Studies show there are more than 17 million guns in Brazil, about half of them illegal and a quarter of them in the hands of criminals. Americans own an estimated 192 million firearms.

Mercopress - www.mercopress.com

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Katrina victims taught Brazilians how to
written by Guest, October 22, 2005

No surprise that Brazilians are reporting that videos of the savages rampaging in New Orleans after the Katrina hurricane made them realize that the police can't/won't protect them even if they lived in the USA. Police exist mainly to report crime and collect murder victims' bodies. They cannot be everywhere at once and cannot protect you when the savages are breaking down your door. Only you can do that, if you are properly equipped.

Go ahead, call the police. in the 5-10 minutes they take to get to your home, your entire family will be dead.

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Guns defend your liberty, Brazil!
written by Guest, October 23, 2005

As we have learned once again in the United States, police cannot protect you as an invididual, or your family, against violence. Every living creature has an inherent right to defend itself. This "natural law" extends to human beings. Guns in the hands of lawful, peaceful citizens are the best way to defend against criminals, as well as against a government that might turn insane (against its own people). If you do own a gun, you have a personal responsibility to get training, and be fully aware of the seriousness of ever having to use it. But avoiding guns is like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand. Good citizen of Brazil! Do not be lied to be the gun-control advocates (who, as have learned in the USA, often own guns themselves or hire bodyguards to have guns!). Be peaceful, but be secure.

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Yes - Defend Yourselves!
written by Guest, October 23, 2005

This is a very sad thing to happen in Brazil - I hope that it does not come to pass. If it would, then the only people (outside of the government) who will have guns will be the criminals, who shouldn't have them in the first place. There is basically nothing you can do to fight against someone who is threatening to shoot you. You can either give them what they want or lose your life - It's pretty much a black-and-white situation. This referendum won't do anything to solve crime - It will only increase it and give criminals more power (what have they to fear now that no law-abiding citizens have guns? No one will threaten their lives or safety while they threaten others'), as well as leave Brazilians defenseless against their own government.

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written by Guest, October 24, 2005

The gun ban lobby is a is a hoot to listen to. They admit that fully 25% of Brazil's guns are owned by criminals. The state is unable or unwilling to change THAT, but if they can make the OTHER 75% surrender their means of self protection, everything will be ok?

How stupid ARE these people?

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