■"Gun-Happy Brazil Is Hotly Debating a Nationwide Ban: Referendum Is Set To Settle the Matter," by Larry Rohter, New York Times, 20 October 2005, p. A3.

Brazil is the only country in the world where you're more likely to get killed by a gun than the United States (see, I keep telling you we've got more in common with New Core pillars than old ones, and my bit on being more like Brazil than gun-careful Canada only drives the point home!). 40k killed by firearms each year, with a total population of only 180m. We're 280 and have roughly º that amount (and yet we kill so many more people than that using things other than guns, but if we didn't, then "CSI" wouldn't be such a hit!).

So the government's plan to ban guns in Brazil is up for national referendum, and in Brazil, if you no vote, you pay fine, so people turn out (a new rule we should adopt).

Natch, all this killing reflects Brazil's regional role as gun merchant extraordinaire (again, just like us!), as nearly 80% of the guns they make they send abroad (which is why Latin America is such a safe placeóno wars, mind you, just unsafe on an individual basis).

There will be more and more attempts in the New Core to ban guns, and across the world in efforts lead by New Core pillars. Count on it.