Signed on January 15th by President Jair Bolsonaro, the decree regulating gun ownership in Brazil could shake up the security market.
The text fulfills the retired captain's campaign promise to expand the right to keep weapons on private property. Since January, all people living in cities with homicide rates higher than 10 per 100,000 inhabitants have been able to own weapons at home, provided they meet certain requirements, such as having no criminal record.
The company PM Cofres, for example, estimates a growth of 30% to 35% in 2019 due to the decree, which also requires that weapons be stored in a "secure place with a lock" if there is a "child, adolescent or mentally disabled person" in the residence. "Certainly [it will have some impact], as the new decree requires a secure place to store the weapon. We have seen an increase in demand for safes for the acquisition of firearms after the new decree," says Leandro Pimentel, commercial manager of the company.
On its website, the Military Police even highlights safes specifically designed for this segment, such as those that can be mounted on cabinets and store up to four weapons, the maximum allowed by law. "We have seen an increase in demand for 20% safes so far, and this number is expected to grow in the coming months," adds Pimentel.
Amidst the expectations created in the market, the international security fair Exposec will have in its 2019 edition a show dedicated exclusively to weapons and related products, the Magnum Show.
Organized by Cipa Fiera Milano, the event takes place from May 21st to 23rd at the São Paulo Expo exhibition center, and will cover everything from weapons manufacturers to producers of security safes, simulators, holsters, and shooting ranges.
This last point is another area that could be affected by Bolsonaro's decree, since one of the requirements for gun ownership is a certificate proving the "technical ability" to handle a firearm.
According to Sidnei Silva, instructor at the Durval Guimarães Sports Association (ADDG) in São Paulo, an increase in demand for courses has been noticeable since January, although this movement is not yet "significant".
“The cost of owning a firearm is not that low,” he explains, giving one of the reasons for the still contained growth in demand at the beginning of this year. According to Silva, the increase in the number of students should be a slow process, as a “behavioral change in society” occurs.
He says that currently, demand is concentrated among business owners, doctors, executives, and freelancers, since lower-income classes "still prioritize other things," partly due to the high cost of buying a gun in Brazil.
In some sectors, however, the decree has not yet produced effects. "Initially, the decree hasn't changed anything regarding our type of weapon," stated Manoel Dall'Agnol Amantino, CEO of ER Amantino, a manufacturer of hunting and sporting weapons from Rio Grande do Sul.
The text frames collectors, hunters, and shooters under the criterion of "effective need," but the delays and bureaucracy involved in obtaining the necessary certification remain an obstacle in this market. "It can take up to six months, which discourages people," Dall'Agnol points out.
The high tax burden also means that ER Amantino currently exports 70% weapons from its production, especially to the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Argentina. The CEO of the manufacturer points out that the decree could bring improvements that would streamline the sale of weapons, reducing bureaucracy.
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