Firearms in Brazil: an Investigation on Values and Meaning

• Autor(a) principal: Keinert, Ruben
• Data de Publicação: 2007
• Outros Autores: Fonseca, Francisco, Blikstein, Izidoro, Storino, Fabio, Sano, Hironobu, Bueno, Luciano
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Cadernos Gestão Pública e Cidadania (Online)
• DOI: 10.12660/cgpc.v12n50.44069
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.fgv.br/cgpc/article/view/44069

This article analyzes the main results of research that was carried out in 2005, supported by a grant awarded by the National Secretariat of Public Safety (Secretaria Nacional de Segurança Pública - Senasp/Ministério da Justiça) on the values and meanings attributed to firearms by those who possess them. This is the first piece of research carried out exclusively with firearms owners. Six thousand questionnaires were sent out to people in seven Brazilian states. Analysis of results indicates that perceived urban violence leads to acquisition of firearms, even though the same people who own firearms consider the areas they live in to be less violent than other parts of their cities. The research also reveals the precarious nature of the existing data base on registered firearms. It thereby reinforces the importance of re-registration, in order to provide better control over the firearms that are kept by private citizens today.