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Brazilians Reject Gun Control Measure

Brazilian voters on Sunday decisively rejected a proposal to outlaw the sale of firearms and ammunition following an aggressive campaign by opponents who argued it would leave citizens defenseless against armed criminals. With more than 92 percent of the ballots counted, 64 percent of Brazilian voters opposed the ban, which its backers hoped would help Brazil shed its label as one of the world`s most dangerous countries.

The referendum marked the first time a country has put a gun ban to a nationwide vote. The defeat disheartened gun control proponents, who had argued that powerful lobbyists for the international gun industry unfairly influenced government policy.

Existing laws in Brazil require gun buyers to be at least 25, not have a criminal record and pass psychological and gun-handling tests. The ban would have prohibited the sale of all guns and ammunition to anyone except police, security personnel and licensed target shooters, but would have allowed those who already legally owned firearms to keep them.