Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed a decree loosening the country's restrictive gun regulations, and hinted at further measures to arm law-abiding citizens to combat rampant crime.
The decree, which does not require congressional approval, scraps the requirement that Brazilians need to prove their 'effective need' to own a firearm. Nevertheless numerous other restrictions remain, including the requirement that gun owners pass tests proving both their psychological aptitude and their capacity to handle a weapon.
"This measure is for upstanding citizens to have peace at home," said Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, at an event in Brasilia on Tuesday. He added that the decree ensures Brazilians' "right of defense" and that further changes to the law depend on congressional approval.