Re-elected in the first round and with more than half of the council members in the next legislature being part of his base, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) intends to push forward a project that has faced strong resistance since 2018: arming the Municipal Guard. The proposal has been postponed 21 times by the City Council due to a lack of consensus. This time, the initiative is expected to move forward, but with the carrying of weapons permitted only for a specific group within the force.
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An Old Project
In Rio, a proposed amendment to the city’s Organic Law, introduced in 2018, has been on the agenda at least 20 times without ever being voted on. The current version of the proposal, discussed in plenary a month ago, provides for the creation of special armed groups, without arming the entire force.
Other Cities in Rio de Janeiro
The debate over authorizing the use of weapons by the Municipal Guard has already taken place — or is still ongoing — in other cities within the state of Rio de Janeiro besides the capital. In São Gonçalo, for example, the municipal government approved the creation of an elite force with armed officers. In Volta Redonda, the use of weapons has been permitted since 2009, though with some interruptions. Last year, Mayor Antônio Francisco Neto trained officers through preparatory courses with the Federal Police and renewed the Municipal Guard’s weapons.
Majority of the Population is Against
The most recent poll conducted by the Quaest Institute, released before the municipal elections, included a specific question about the role of municipal guards in combating crime and whether these forces should be armed or not. In Rio de Janeiro, the results show that a significant portion of the population opposes this measure. According to the survey, 57% of respondents stated they are against arming the Municipal Guard. Among those who support the idea, 38% believe the force should be equipped with weapons.
São Paulo
Among the capitals surveyed, São Paulo has the largest proportion of voters in favor of arming the force. 60% of respondents support the measure, while 35% are against it and 5% do not know how to answer. In São Paulo, the Metropolitan Civil Guard has been using carbines and rifles since 2022.
Analysis:
The analysis of the debate on arming the Municipal Guard in Rio de Janeiro (GM-RJ), and in other cities in the state, is part of a broader context of the militarization of the corporations. According to the Laboratory of Studies on Politics and Violence at the Fluminense Federal University, this movement diverts the original function of the Guard, which should focus on supporting the population and preventing minor crimes.
Many specialists argue that arming the Municipal Guard may not be the most effective solution to address security challenges. Instead, they believe that the GM plays a fundamental role in connecting the security forces and local communities in a close level of collaboration and dialogue. Therefore, instead of focusing on armaments, it would be more productive to strengthen preventive policies and community outreach, aligned with the original function of the Guard.
