CCJ of the Chamber approves project that allows states and DF to legislate on gun ownership | Policy

The Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of the Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday (24) a complementary bill that allows states and the Federal District to legislate on topics related to firearms. There were 34 votes in favor and 30 votes against the project. The text will now be analyzed by the Chamber plenary.

Under the project, the states and the Federal District “are authorized to specifically provide for the possession and carrying of firearms, for the purposes of personal defense, sporting activities and the control of invasive exotic species”.

States that decide to enact specific legislation on the subject need to prove that they are able to monitor gun owners. The project also defines that future state authorizations would only guarantee the use or possession of weapons within its territory.

The project is authored by the president of the CCJ, deputy Caroline de Toni (PL-SC). The deputy stated that her initiative aims to reverse the limitations on devices defined by the new government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“The new Federal Government has been imposing strong limitations on this segment of firearms, signaling with other series of restrictions to be implemented, all initiatives to avoid this regulatory setback are welcome, as long as they are promoted peacefully, and within the legality” , said De Toni.

The government base questioned the constitutionality of the project.

“There are some matters that it is a joke to present to the Constitution and Justice Commission. It is clearly unconstitutional, with several decisions of the Federal Supreme Court affirming this”, said deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ).

PSOL stated that it intends to sue the STF if the project progresses, alleging the proposal’s unconstitutionality. According to the party, article 21 of the Constitution determines that it is the Union’s sole prerogative to legislate on weapons by pointing out that “it is the Union’s responsibility to authorize and supervise the production and trade of war material.”