A bill allowing women to purchase pepper spray for personal self-defense purposes in Brazil was approved by the National Congress last month. The proposal received the endorsement of the Brazilian President, Lula da Silva, who sanctioned the measure, introducing some changes to the version published in the Official Gazette of the Union.
To purchase the aerosol, the woman must present an official photo ID, proof of fixed residence, and a Criminal Record Certificate, which must attest to the absence of conviction for a willful crime. The legislation restricts the purchase to sprays with a maximum capacity of 50 milliliters for women, while larger containers are reserved exclusively for public security agents and members of the armed forces.
Retail establishments authorized to sell the device are required to archive purchase and sale records for a period of five years, and must also maintain data on both the buyer and the person who will possess the aerosol. Furthermore, selling companies must provide basic guidance on the correct use of pepper spray. The law establishes that these devices are for individual and non-transferable use, and prohibits them from containing lethal or permanently toxic substances.
The use of pepper spray will be considered legal in situations of self-defense, aiming to ward off an aggressor when facing an unjust aggression that is occurring or about to occur. Lula validated the law but vetoed specific sections, such as the requirement for explicit authorization from legal guardians for adolescents between 16 and 18 years old, thus maintaining the possibility of automatic purchase for adult women. The Brazilian President also vetoed the application of penalties, such as fines, against women who used the spray outside legal guidelines, arguing that this section 'contradicts the public interest.'
The approval of this project occurs in a scenario where Brazil has registered an increase in femicides for the fourth consecutive year. According to the 20th Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security 2026, in 2025, 1,571 victims of femicide were recorded, totaling four daily deaths in the country. The report from the Brazilian Forum of Public Security points out that, besides fatal cases, there were 4,189 attempted femicides in the previous year, representing a 5.9% growth compared to 2025. The non-governmental organization emphasizes that for every completed femicide, there were almost three attempts.
Additionally, the Violence Atlas 2026, produced by the Institute of Applied Economic Research and the Brazilian Forum of Public Security, indicates that sexual violence in Brazil is often underreported, potentially reaching around 822,000 incidents of violation annually.
Authoritative sources reported that a rifle registered to Jair Bolsonaro was turned over to authorities on Thursday, July 8, after the former owner raised an alarm. The weapon is a Maestro Arms Company caliber 12 firearm that had been offered to him during his presidency in Brazil.
International publications explain that this weapon was custom-made and registered in his name. It is decorated with the Brazilian flag and the inscription 'Ordem e Progresso' (Order and Progress).
Following searches involving the Armed Corps, it was established that the Armed Forces provided six out of eight registered samples. Once the situation became known, the former owner of the weapon notified the authorities and requested that law enforcement locate it, as he did not have permission to transport the item, which was not registered in his name.
According to the publication g1, the weapon has not yet been seized to fulfill the requirement of Vice President of the Federal District Court of Brazil, Alexandre de Moraes. It should be noted that Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison and has been under house arrest since March 24 of this year. Moraes initially allowed this sentence for 90 days but subsequently extended the term.
The search occurred after another weapon belonging to the former president was confiscated, which was seized in the Federal District in June during a road operation. Police confiscated a Glock 9mm pistol with a magazine registered to the former head of state, matching the model of one of the two samples that were supposed to be handed over by the army.
The person transporting the weapon identified himself as a member of Bolsonaro's security detail and stated that he was transporting it for repair. Jair Bolsonaro's defense argued that the team responsible for his security removed the firing pin from the weapon without his knowledge to render it unusable due to medications 'that may affect his cognitive functions,' according to a document presented to the Court and reviewed by AFP. Bolsonaro's lawyers also added that the former president discovered a malfunction in the mechanism and handed the weapon over to an army lieutenant colonel for inspection. Searches were also conducted at Bolsonaro's home during this operation, but it is unknown if all his registered weapons were seized.
