Bolsonaro Proposes Ending Criminal Sanctions on Armed Residents Resisting Intruders

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday evening that he will submit a bill to Congress to give permission for armed residents to react against anyone attempting to break into their homes. According to the president, the measure will apply to both rural and urban residences.

“I want guarantees inside the home, for instance. How can you behave indoors if someone comes inside? Nowadays, what is the legislation like… We want the absolute guarantee that inside your home you can do anything against a trespasser,” said the president, upon arriving at the Alvorada Palace, without detailing points of the project.

Currently, Article 25 of the Penal Code defines legitimate defense as “those who, moderately resorting to the necessary means, repel an unjust assault, whether current or imminent, on their own right or on that of others”. The text does not specifically address the reaction of an invasion of property.

Throughout his presidential campaign, Bolsonaro advocated eliminating criminal sanctions for people shooting someone who was trespassing on their private property

The bill should be submitted to Congress later this week and is part of the package of four public safety measures that the president has promised to send to the legislature. Last week, Bolsonaro submitted a bill to Congress for the exclusion of liability for law enforcement agents actiing in operations of Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO). Bolsonaro said he will submit a new bill every week.

Bolsonaro advocated the new bill, justifying that the government cannot guarantee the safety of all citizens 24 hours a day.

“There is no governor to provide 24-hour safety for everyone. Inside the home, you have to take care of yourself,” he told the GLOBO reporter. “Everyone must have absolute power over their home in defense of their life, of their relatives, should anyone break in” he added.

Asked if the measure would apply to both rural and urban property, the president justified that he is replicating developed countries, such as the United States.

“Rural is no different from the city. There are people who live here in Brasília and their house is a small farm. In the United States, it’s like that, I’m not making anything up, I’m copying developed countries.”

Source: O Globo