Minister of the Interior and Police Carlos Amarante Baret announced the Ministry will apply more strict controls for firearm permits or renewals. He said that the stricter application of controls contained in the Firearm Law is one of the goals of his ministry for 2017-2020.
The minister said: “What should matter is that when you place a firearm in the hands of a civilian we must be fully confident that this person is reasonably balanced from a psychological point of view and therefore eligible to possess the right to bear arms.” He stressed his agency would apply more strict enforcement of the psychological tests required under the law.
Amarante Baret issued his statements during a meeting with the deputy ministers and department directors at the Ministry of the Interior and Police. The Minister said that the right to bear arms is covered in the Constitution of the Republic, but this right is conditional and subject to the professional assessment of the applicant that the Ministry of the Interior and Police is obligated to conduct.
Amarante Baret said that 61% of the 1,613 homicides that occurred last year were committed with firearms, causing the death of 978 persons and injuring 3,890.
Amarante Baret made the comments after rumors have circulated that the recent murder by gunshots of two broadcasters was due to the unbridled rage of the lead suspect regarding a business deal that did not go his way.
Last year there were 685 cases of firearms that were reported stolen or lost.
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7 Dias
16 February 2017
