In June, a man registered as a collector, sports shooter, and hunter (CAC) from Londrina, Paraná, called the police and said that he had been captured by an armed robber, who stole from him two pistols and a rifle that he had purchased legally, with authorization from the Army. Without finding any trace of the perpetrator of the robbery, the police, when investigating the case, discovered that the CAC had lied with the intention of hiding the sale of weapons for drug trafficking. 18 weapons were seized in the man’s home.
The case in the south of the country exemplifies a practice that, according to police authorities and public security experts, has become frequent: weapons legally purchased by CACs end up in the hands of criminals. Figures obtained show that the number of robbed, stolen or lost artifacts in the category reached a record level in 2023 in relation to recent years, with an average of 126 occurrences per month, the equivalent of four every day. 1,259 incidents of this type were recorded between January and October. The number is close to the 1,368 weapons robbed, stolen or lost throughout last year — an average of 114 per month —, when it was already a record.
What the Army Says
When contacted, the Army stated that it is not responsible for investigations into theft or robbery of CAC weapons, because the inspection of controlled products is the responsibility of the administrative police.
Softer Rules
The increase in cases in recent years occurred in the wake of the relaxation of rules for CACs to have access to weapons. During the Jair Bolsonaro government, there were a series of decrees that relaxed requirements and increased the number of weapons and ammunition that each person could buy.
Numbers from Previous Years
Between 2019 and 2022, 5,014 weapons were robbed, stolen, or lost from these hunters, shooters, and collectors — an increase of 85% compared to the previous five years, when Bolsonaro’s gun ownership policy had not yet been adopted.
Until 2017, the number of weapons stolen or lost from CACs was below 600 per year. From 2018 onwards, the index began to grow, reaching its peak in 2022.
Another Case
In March, the Civil Police of Espírito Santo discovered that a 5.56 rifle seized from a drug gang in Vila Velha was listed as stolen in the Army system. The weapon was registered in the name of a CAC who had obtained the certificate in 2021, thanks to a decree by Bolsonaro at the beginning of his government. This type of caliber was previously restricted to security forces. According to the Espírito Santo police, the CAC supplied equipment to drug traffickers in Vitória and Vila Velha. The man was arrested while negotiating the sale of another rifle and preparing to buy more weapons, according to investigations.
On the legal market, the lost weapon was purchased for around R$20,000. As for the traffickers, it ended up being passed on for R$70,000, according to the police investigation — a profit of R$50,000. According to the Civil Police, the rifle was used in shootings between rival factions and against the Military Police, before being seized by the authorities.
Low value
The ideal would be for the federal government to launch a new campaign for the voluntary delivery of weapons and increase the value offered for each weapon. Currently, the voluntary weapons delivery program pays R$450 for 9 mm rifles or pistols — a value well below the market, where these artifacts cost R$6,000 to R$20,000.
There must be a way out, otherwise weapons will become illegal. Between passing it to the government for a low price, they continue selling it to the illegal for ten times more.
Analysis:
Authorities link the increase to the greater circulation of weapons. But another reason already discovered for this growth is the simulated theft of regular weapons, with the aim of selling them to organized crime. While experts point out that the high number of weapons lost this year can be considered an attempt to legalize the diversion of artifacts to organized crime. The number of weapons in circulation has more than doubled in four years. An increase in the number of thefts and robberies is natural. However, what is worrying is the possibility that the records of thefts are being used to mask the diversion of weapons to the illegal market. Although the relaxation of access to firearms was suspended by the current government, owners of rifles and other weapons were allowed to maintain their weapons, even those that have become restricted calibers again. But it eliminated transit possession and reduced the validity period of licenses — which was seen as a disincentive to keeping arsenals at home.
Source: O Globo
