Boy, Gun Control Sure Works Great, Doesn't It?

Reader Doug Sundseth sent me this short Reuter's story, but first, a little background. Brazil just recently passed a registration and licensing law because they're suffering from astronomical rates of homicide by firearm. The political knee-jerk reaction is, of course "It's because of the guns!" The BBC reported in July

A law to ban the carrying of guns in public and control illegal ownership has come into effect in Brazil.

The law, passed by Congress in December, came into force on Friday after being signed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

It will tighten rules on gun permits and create a national firearms register, with strict penalties for owning an unregistered gun.

So, how well is it working so far? Let's see what Reuter-rooter reports:

Thieves Rob Bus Full of Policemen

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Forty-six Brazilian policemen traveling to a sports competition were caught with their guard down this week when four Brazilian thieves robbed the bus carrying them to the event.

The bus with 46 unarmed policemen from northeastern Paraiba state was headed to the city of Salvador in Bahia when two cars with armed robbers forced them to stop on the country's main interstate highway on Tuesday.

"The robbers took their cameras, cellular phones, wallets and even the sports uniforms and sneakers," a police spokesman said.

The suspects, who escaped, apparently did not know the bus was full of police when they stopped it, he said.

"We are looking for them, but I cannot say there's any particular ardor here due to the fact that policemen have been robbed."

Apparently nobody told the robbers that carrying an unregistered gun in public was a crime. Two crimes, actually.

D'OH!

Thanks, Doug. I needed the laugh.