Airsoft in Brazil?
..it may soon be a reality

Airsoft in Brazil? If Rodrigo Pessoa has his way, there will be. Rodrigo, nick name “Parafal”, from Rio de Janeiro, discovered airsoft while surfing the “net” in an online gamer forum for Operation Flashpoint in December 2002. Some forum members were discussing “airsoft” and had posted some pictures that intrigued him enough to want to find out more. After numerous searches and info gathering from international and specially from an airsoft team website from Portugal, Rodrigo began to realize that airsoft did not exist in Brazil. Being a Lawyer he started to search if there were any limitations or laws against owning replica guns, unfortunately he found there was.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, home of Rodrigo Pessoa.

Because of the increasing violence, the Brazilian Government edited a strict new gun control law enacted in 1997 (edited and changed again to a more strict one in 2003) that had included “replica” firearms in a countrywide ban in which no one was permitted to own them without a special permit from the Army. With this information, Rodrigo and a friend started to wade through the red tape to get a real firearm license as collectors. This bureaucratic process took about 1 month, but can now take more then 1 year.

Eric Gregory, Left, Captain of Team OpForce, and Rodrigo Pessoa, of Brazil, during Rodrigo’s visit to the U.S. in July 2004 at which time he played his first real game of airsoft.

His subsequent search for a retailer from which to purchase an AEG led him to OpForce Airsoft, an online retailer at the time. Rod’s communications with OpForce owner Eric Gregory led him to a greater understanding of airsoft, AEG’s, and all the “trappings” that go along with it. Eric’s patience in answering all his questions and understanding of Rod’s challenges in Brazil with airsoft led them to be fast friends, albeit long distance ones. Rod eventually placed the order for his first AEG with OpForce. Thus began the next set of travails…

When the AEG finally arrived in Brazil, Rodrigo was notified it was being held in customs, even though Eric had carefully partially disassembled the gun so customs would see that it was not real before shipping. After being held for 20 days, customs then sent Rod a letter informing him he would need a special permit from the military in order to pick it up. Even with the Real Firearms license, Rod had to explain and show pictures about airsoft because nobody in the Army knew what airsoft was. After 2 weeks, the Army said ok, they will take the airsoft gun out from the customs. One month later the airsoft gun, a TM M733, arrived at his home.

Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil (right) performs CQB training excercises with teammates at the December 2004 Team OpForce practice under the watchful eye and instruction of team captain Eric Gregory (left).

This “permission” was only to allow him “possession” of the AEG however, as a “collector”. It did not allow him to take the AEG outside, shoot it, etc…or otherwise engage in what we know as “airsoft”. In addition to the original purchase price, Rod spent 60% of the AEG purchase price on import tax, and the separate gun permit fee was nearly $100 ( US). Another friend of Rod’s saw his AEG and was immediately interested in ordered his own from a Hong Kong retailer. Although Rod’s friend has a real gun license, he did not fair as well as Rod. The customs seized his AEG and even with his permission the Army, this time, didn’t allow him to get it. The argument was that he could use this gun to rob a bank. Rodrigo’s friends tried to argue saying that he already has 5 real guns at home, but nothing changed the Lieutenant’s mind. This Lieutenant was an officer from the SFPC/1, the Regional Military Gun Department from Rio de Janeiro.

Because of this situation, Rodrigo began calling military officials and writing letters to try and get the law changed or relaxed to allow for airsoft weapons to be reclassified and not seen in the same light as firearms and replica firearms. Rod’s own father had been a pilot in the Brazilian Air Force, and he thought perhaps that might help him at least get a meeting with the right officials. At first, the military was not very helpful, but Rod’s persistence finally paid off when he was able to meet a Major who works at the Army Gun Department (DFPC). The Major was very helpful and interested with Rod’s presentation about airsoft and set up a meeting with a committee, which included Colonels and the General Director from the DFPC. Rod’s MS PowerPoint airsoft presentation as well as demo of the AEG and subsequent discussions with the committee prompted them to reconsider the present regulations regarding airsoft being held in the same light as real and replica firearms, and allow for their possession and use recreationally. Thanks to Rod’s efforts, the new regulations are on track to be approved sometime in the first semester of 2005. A special permit will still be required, a minimum age limit to possess (likely 25), and it will still require somewhat high permit and customs pick-up fees, however it will open the door for airsoft to finally be played legally in Brazil, no small accomplishment after almost 3 years of work now.

Team OpForce and Rodrigo Pessoa hold their respective countries’ flags at an OpForce practice in December 2004. Left to Right: Chris Gregory, Eric Gregory, Rodrigo Pessoa, Art Newby, James Doyle, Mike Jones, Jonathan Johnson, Chuck Link, and Cory Jones.

Rod’s progress and involvement in airsoft naturally translated itself into a website, www.airsoftbrasil.com to keep others informed of progress, post articles, and generally be a portal for Brazilians to learn about airsoft. Eric and Rod’s friendship and communication continued, even after Eric closed OpForce airsoft in 2003 to better concentrate on the OpForce airsoft team, and his real job. Their continuing discussions led Rod, whose mother lives near Chicago, to want to visit his U.S. airsoft friends, and in mid July 2004, Rod made a trip from Brazil to Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of Eric Gregory and Team OpForce. OpForce embraced their international friend, and took him to play his very first airsoft game at the Bad Karma airsoft field (www.badkarmaairsoft.net ) near Lebanon, TN, about an hour away from Bowling Green.

Team OpForce and Rodrigo Pessoa pose for a team picture at an OpForce practice in December 2004. Kneeling, Left to Right: Chris Gregory, Eric Gregory, Cory Jones, and Chuck Link. Standing, Left to Right: Rodrigo Pessoa, Art Newby, James Doyle, Mike Jones, Jonathan Johnson.

The team made sure Rod was outfitted with all the gear he would need, and before the trip he had purchased a brand new TM AK-47, delivered to his mother’s near Chicago, so he would have an AEG whenever he came to visit in the future. Rod’s first airsoft game was all he hoped it would be, although the mid-July heat really took its toll on him physically. OpForce presented him with a team uniform and patches afterward and “officially” designated him as its first “international” member. An added bonus to his visit was the opportunity he had to shoot some “real steel”. Rod’s father, the former Brazilian Air Force officer, had passed away earlier in the year, leaving him his service weapon, a real Glock 19 pistol. Rod had to go through all the same red tape and fees just to get to keep it, but would never be allowed to fire it in his home country as it was designated a “military” weapon. However, OpForce owner Eric Gregory also owned a real Glock 19, and the next day after Rod’s first game of airsoft, Eric took him to a local range and allowed him to fire it. Rod returned again to the U.S. in early December 2004, and this time participated in a practice/training session at the team’s own “kill house” practice facility. Rod was like a sponge, and soaked up every bit of info and every minute of the training with his new found “brothers in arms”.

Later over dinner, Rod discussed why it was so hard in Brazil to have airsoft accepted. The public’s general perception of firearms and violence in Brazil has a very distinctive “left wing” tinge. Their opinion of Americans and guns in general are the stereotypical “cowboy”, “loose canons” with very violent natures. Real firearms and ammo are very scarce in availability to the general public, and only with the proper permissions, fees, etc…does anyone even own a real firearm, and those are mostly “hunting” rifles and the like according to Rod. However, even with such strict gun control laws and scarcity of firearms to the general public, Rod says crime, especially homicides, are much more common and have higher rates than in the U.S. Drug and gang wars rage in certain neighborhoods in the larger cities, often with the gangs/Drug runners being better armed than the local police. It is not uncommon at all, Rod says, to be on the beach in Rio at night, look up in the hills above, where the “favelas” are located, and see and hear tracers and gunfire.

Despite the challenges and public perceptions, Rod says that like here, there are many people in Brazil that would love to become involved in airsoft. His efforts through his website, www.airsoftbrasil.com to inform and educate others in Brazil about airsoft in general, the latest gear, events, has already generated significant interest. Thanks to Rod’s efforts, airsoft in Brazil may soon be a reality.

Written by Chuck Link (aka “clinkman”, Team OpForce)