President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed last Friday (21) the Security Action Plan (PAS), which goes beyond gun control, encompassing measures to protect the Amazon region, combat drug trafficking, violence in schools, environmental crime and violence against women. The main objective is to strengthen the Unified Public Security System and the National Public Security with Citizenship Program (Pronasci 2), as well as combat crimes against children and adolescents and organized crime.
Understand the main points of the plan
1 – Weapon control:
One of the main changes in the PAS was the reduction of civilian access to weapons and ammunition, including hunters, shooters and registered collectors. Now, the distinction between weapons for use by law enforcement and weapons accessible to the public has been re-established, and hunters, shooters and collectors are no longer allowed to carry loaded weapons. The validity of firearms registration has been reduced, and inspection of these activities will be gradually transferred from the Army to the Federal Police.
– Self-defense:
Regarding personal defense, the plan authorizes only two weapons and 50 ammunition per piece of equipment each year, with the need for proof. Previously, four guns were allowed without justification, with 200 rounds per gun annually.
– Rules for hunters, sport shooters and collectors:
The new rules set limits on the amount of weapons and ammunition that hunters, sport shooters and collectors can own. For example, hunters can now have a maximum of six weapons, two of which are restricted, with special permission. Previously, the possession of up to 30 weapons was foreseen, including 15 for restricted use. In addition, collectors’ weapons were also limited to one weapon of each model, with restrictions on automatic and long semi-automatic weapons of restricted use caliber less than 70 years old.
– Allowed and restricted weapons:
The 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP pistols were again considered restricted-use weapons, along with semi-automatic smoothbore long guns. These weapons are now restricted to security forces and not accessible to civilians.
– Transport of weapons:
The transport of registered and unloaded firearms now requires the issuance of a traffic permit, and only collectors, shooters, hunters and foreign representatives in official shooting competitions held in Brazil can carry weapons.
– Sport shooting clubs:
The new resolutions establish express criteria for sports shooting clubs, including a minimum distance from educational establishments and opening hours between 6 am and 10 pm, prohibiting 24-hour operation.
– Reduction of the validity of the registration of weapons:
The validity of gun registrations has been reduced to three years for exceptional hunters, sport shooters and collectors. For subsistence hunting and possession purposes, registration is good for five years, the same for private security companies.
The PAS, launched this week, aims at a comprehensive approach to strengthen security in the country and preserve territorial sovereignty, in addition to combating various crimes that affect society. The new measures are the result of a joint effort between the federal government and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, led by Minister Flávio Dino.
2. Amazon Plan: Security and Sovereignty (Amas)
The plan provides for the development of public security actions to meet the security needs of the states that make up the Legal Amazon (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Roraima, Rondônia and Tocantins). This includes environmental and related crimes.
The expected investment is R$ 2 billion with funds from the National Fund for Public Security, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Amazon Fund, for the implementation of structures and the purchase of equipment for the states.
The government announced the implementation of 28 land bases and six river bases to combat environmental crimes and related infractions, totaling 34 new integrated security bases (PF, PRF and State Forces).
Also in the plan is the implementation of the Environmental Operations Company of the National Public Security Force (headquarters in Manaus) with the structuring and equipping of the International Police Cooperation Center of the Federal Police (headquarters in Manaus).
3. Bill to make violence against schools a heinous crime
The government informed that the proposal came from the families victimized by the attack on the Cantinho Bom Pastor day care center, in Blumenau (SC). The project provides for a new type of qualified homicide when committed within educational institutions, with a prison sentence of 12 to 30 years.
The penalty for homicide committed within educational institutions will be increased by one-third to one-half if the victim is a person with a disability or an illness that implies increased vulnerability.
It will also be increased by two thirds if the author is ancestor, stepfather or stepmother, uncle, brother, spouse, partner, tutor, trustee, preceptor or employer of the victim or by any other title has authority over her, such as teachers and other employees.
4. Bill for the seizure of assets in cases of crimes against the Democratic State
The project provides, in cases where there is sufficient evidence of authorship or financing of crimes against the Democratic State of Law, that the judge may enact measures to seize assets, rights or values of the investigated or accused, at any stage of the process or even before the complaint or complaint is filed.
5. Bill to increase penalties for crimes committed against the Democratic State
The proposal provides for imprisonment for those who commit crimes against the democratic rule of law and coup d’état:
From 6 to 12 years for those who organize or lead anti-democratic movements;
From 8 to 20 years for those who finance anti-democratic movements;
From 6 to 12 years, plus a penalty corresponding to violence, for crimes that threaten the physical integrity and freedom of the President of the Republic, the Vice President of the Republic, the President of the Federal Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministers of the Federal Supreme Court and the Attorney General of the Republic, with a view to altering the democratic constitutional order;
From 20 to 40 years for crimes that threaten the life of the authorities mentioned above, with the aim of altering the democratic constitutional order.
6. Anticipation authorization for the transfer of more than R$ 1 billion to States
The government informed that the National Public Security Fund for the States relates to the year 2023. The first half of the amounts is expected to be paid in August and the rest will be done by the end of this year. Check out how the apportionment turned out
7. Transfers of R$169.2 million to the Safe School Program
24 states and the Federal District are expected to be covered, in addition to 132 municipalities qualified in the Escola Segura public notice. Check the values here.
The projects to be funded, as explained by the government, involve preventive measures for patrols and school rounds by the military police or municipal civil guards, training courses for security professionals and courses that include reception, active listening and referral to the network of protection for children and adolescents, in addition to research and diagnostics, as well as strengthening of cyber investigation and monitoring.
8. PF Ordinance for the expansion of the Sensitive Investigation Groups (GISEs) and the Integrated Forces to Combat Organized Crime (FICCO)
The ordinance authorizes the installation of five new GISEs in the states of Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Ceará and Santa Catarina, increasing from 15 to 20 units in all in the country.
The measure foresees the implementation of 15 new FICCOs, increasing from 12 to 27 units.
The additional investment will be R$ 100 million.
9. Notice for the selection of cultural projects for the National Program for Public Security with Citizenship – Pronasci 2
The idea with the public notice is to select projects, conducted by civil society organizations, that aim to carry out cultural manifestations that promote the repair of damages and rights of populations in territories with high rates of violence and social vulnerability.
The total value of the notice is R$ 30 million destined to the 163 priority municipalities of the National Program for Public Security with Citizenship – Pronasci 2.
