Nearly two Brazilians to every one voted “no” to a proposal that would prohibit the sale of guns to any person in their country. This proposal would have outlawed the sale of firearms and ammunition, with the exception of sales to police, military officers, security officers, collectors, and sports shooter. The Brazilian government, the catholic church, and the U.N. were trying to influence Brazilian citizens to vote “yes” because they believed that if people were not allowed to purchase guns, then it could decrease the murder rate it Brazil.

40,000 people were killed in Brazil last year by firearms, which is the 4th highest murder rate in the world. It is four times the rate in the United States, and Brazil has 100 million fewer citizens.

Raul Jungmann, an avid campaigner for the ban of guns, said to CNN, “There are statistics showing how the 17.5 millions guns estimated to be circulating in Brazil helped lift the national homicide rate to 21.7 per 100,000 people. That rate is second only to Venezuela.”

Every gun shop in Brazil will remain open, and will still be able to sell guns to anyone over the age of 25. Any person that wishes to purchase a gun or ammunition will still have a background check performed on them.

Luiz Antonio Fleury, leader of the Nao campaign against the proposal, said “If the campaign to prohibit the commercial sale of arms wins, then it is the average citizen, the decent man who will lose the right to defend himself and protect his family and his property, subject said on BBC.com.”

Unlike Brazilian government officials, many Brazilian citizens felt that this proposal would not stop gun violence. Actually, many believe that a new gun law could prevent citizens from protecting themselves. Brazilian citizens believe the outlaws who commit these acts of gun violence receive their guns and ammunition illegally from sources outside of gun shops. It is the regular, law-abiding citizens who wish to purchase guns legally from gun shops.

This referendum also dealt with each individual’s civil rights. Not every Brazilian feels the need to purchase a gun. In a country where murders occur regularly, citizens believe they need to be able to defend themselves and their families if any ill intent were directed at them.