As of Tuesday (01/07), the Federal Police officially took over the responsibility of monitoring CACs—registered gun collectors, sport shooters, and hunters—in a significant move that reflects the Lula administration’s commitment to stricter arms control and combating the illegal circulation of firearms. The transition, which had previously been under the jurisdiction of the Brazilian Army, is being carried out in phases and involves new regulatory mechanisms, operational investments, and enhanced investigative powers. The move has already resulted in dozens of arrests and is expected to uncover new links between legal gun ownership and organized crime, especially with the unification of data under a single monitoring system.
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Army Responsibility
Until June, the oversight of CACs was under the jurisdiction of the Brazilian Army. The transfer of responsibilities to the Federal Police is being implemented in phases and is by a directive issued by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration. This change is part of the so-called Arms Decree, signed in July 2023 and later upheld by the Supreme Federal Court (STF).
What Changes?
Among the key changes is the development of a statistical dashboard that will compile data on registration processes and other relevant information about CACs across the country. The goal is to enhance transparency and provide society with easier access to data regarding this segment.
Budget Boost
On 15 May, the Ministry of Justice announced that it would allocate R$20 million to the Federal Police to support the transition. However, this amount is less than the R$30 million that the PF had originally estimated would be needed to fully assume oversight responsibilities. In the same announcement,Executive Secretary Manoel Carlos de Almeida Neto stated that specialized Arms Control Units will be created in all state capitals and in the Federal District, as well as 96 additional units in PF police stations located in the interior regions of the country.
Arrested Shooters
The Federal Police has arrested 63 CACs who had outstanding arrest warrants for serious crimes, including homicide, rape of vulnerable individuals, participation in organized crime, fraud, theft, and failure to pay alimony. These arrests took place between January and July of this year, during the transition of data oversight from the Army to the PF. These figures are in addition to the 147 arrests made during the gun re-registration campaign in 2023, the first year of Lula’s current term.
New Investigations
Now that all CAC-related data has been consolidated into a single system—Sinarm—the Federal Police intends to initiate a broad investigation into the current status of the 978,000 CAC certificates and 1.5 million firearms registered to collectors, sport shooters, and hunters in Brazil. Authorities expect that this detailed audit will likely trigger a new wave of investigations focused on the diversion and illegal trafficking of firearms initially obtained through legal channels.
Analysis:
The transfer of oversight for CACs (collectors, sport shooters, and hunters) from the Brazilian Army to the Federal Police marks a significant institutional shift in the country’s arms control policy. Public security specialists consider this a positive step and a potential turning point in the national strategy to curb the illegal circulation of firearms. By centralizing responsibilities under a single authority with investigative expertise and direct law enforcement capabilities, the measure aims to close longstanding gaps in arms oversight and prevent the legal market from being used as a gateway for organized crime.
The unification of data into one system is particularly relevant, as it enables real-time cross-checking of gun ownership records with criminal databases, arrest warrants, and indicators of suspicious behavior.
