Brasília - The first demolition of firearms turned in to the Federal Police (PF) as part of the National Disarmament Campaign will take place at a public ceremony in the next few days. This information comes from the head of the PF's National Arms System (Sirnam), Commissioner Fernando Segóvia. According to him, the idea is to erect "a monument to peace and life" with the scrap from the destroyed weapons.

The federal government initially hoped to remove 80 thousand weapons from circulation by the end of the year, but in around a month the population has already turned in over 52 thousand arms, according to Segóvia. All the armament delivered to the PF will be destroyed by the Army Command. All those who turn in arms will receive R$ 100 to R$ 300 in compensation. The maximum sum will be paid for semiautomatics and some types of pistols. The government has 30 days to deposit the money in the checking account indicated by the applicant.

Owners of unregistered weapons will be obliged to turn them in or register them in compliance with legal prerequisites by December 23. Otherwise, from this date on, they will be in criminal violation and are liable to be sent to jail if caught red-handed with a weapon, since the Disarmament Statute determines that illegal bearing of weapons is a crime without bail.

The Commissioner assured that no citizen who turns in an unregistered weapon by December 23 will be investigated. "He will not answer for the crime; we don't care who the person is who possesses the weapon; we just want to destroy it."

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Juliana Andrade
Translator: David Silberstein
08/16/2004