Guns and roses...

During the last weeks there is a theme that is strategically deviating the attention of people here in Brazil from the corruption scandal of the government.

The YES or NO.

Brazil is preparing a referendum during the weekend where people will vote weather of not they agree in prohibiting the fabrication and commerce of guns in the country. Brazil is the second country with more deaths caused by a gun shot, the first one is Venezuela (according to UNESCO), 107 daily deaths in average were registered in 2003.

The discussion is really hot these days, there are all kind of positions

YES because most of guns in the arms of criminal were acquired legally
NO because everyone has the right to protect him/herself in a country where the government does not protect you
YES because the gun industry in the only beneficiary of the daily deaths.
NO because taking guns from the citizen can end in a Coup d'etat, by the militaries or guerrillas (some even say colombian ones) and no one would be able to fight against it

And the list continues...

Precisely this week I watched Lord of War, and this movie is exactly about guns, the main character is Nicolas Cage a gundealer, he provides guns to governments, illegal groups, and whoever who usually would not be able to get them legally at a very large amount.

I think I got aware of the big link between the gun industry and violence... how they not only supply guns (sometimes even to both bands), but also are able to innitiate wars and influence even governments in their security policy.

Yesterday in the United States, was approved a very controversial law where Gun industry could not be demanded by any crime victim. I guess being a country with about 76 million of handguns (.80 guns per capita), and that has a large gun industy (with exports all over the world) this represents an important part of the economy, so for some people (like Bush) protecting this industry PAYS.

About guns there could be so much to say, but keeping it to the banning here in Brazil, I don't think that the YES will stop crime, it might reduce the number of arms circulating but it will increase the black market. However I'd be happy with a YES knowing that at least it won't be legal to make money out of selling guns that kill inocent people. A yes would send a message to other countries influenced by powerful gun lobbies that is possible to work around them...