Brasília, 7/2/2004(Agência Brasil) - Yesterday president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree containing the necessary legislation to make the Disarmament Statute law. The decree has 77 articles on a wide variety of items. It deals with types of weapons, their use and restrictions on use, as well as regulations for ownership. The decree also establishes the National Weapons System (Sinam), housed in the Ministry of Justice, and the Military Weapons Management System, housed in the Ministry of Defense.

There will be restrictions on imports of weapons. The restrictions are detailed in the decree.

All police firearms will have to be registered.

Firearm licenses will have to be renewed every three years.

The government has US$3.2 million to compensate people who turn in weapons.

(Translator:Allen Bennett)