Despite church efforts, referendum on firearms fails in Brazil

Published: 2005-10-25

SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) -- A referendum that would have stopped the sale of small firearms and ammunition to civilians in Brazil failed to pass despite the efforts of the Catholic Church. Only 36 percent of voters supported the ban in a nationwide referendum Oct. 23. Brazil's Catholic Church was one of the leading groups to push for the prohibition of firearms in the country. In July 2004, when the government started a disarmament campaign, encouraging citizens to turn in their firearms in exchange for money, toys and food, Catholic churches all over the country transformed into collection centers for weapons. Since the beginning of the campaign, government officials estimate that more than 443,700 firearms were given to authorities to be destroyed. The Brazilian bishops' conference asked priests to encourage Catholics to dispose of their firearms. According to Sou da Paz institute, each year in Brazil more than 40,000 people die of gunshot wounds.

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