36/ 52Tough on crime?
Tough on crime? His votes say otherwise
Flávio Bolsonaro promises to take criminals “out of circulation, standing or lying down”[1]. In the Senate, Flávio voted to reduce the sentences of those convicted over January 8 and the coup plot, his own father among them[2][3].
24 Dec. 2019 · Anti-crime package
Jair Bolsonaro vetoes a harsher sentence for homicide with a restricted or prohibited firearm, saying it “violates the principle of proportionality”[4]
2021 · Veto overridden
Congress overrides the veto, and the provision becomes law[5]
2022 · Guns
Under Bolsonaro, registered CACs (hunters, sport shooters and collectors) grow from 117,467 (2018) to 783,385, more than six times[6]
10 Dec. 2025 · Anti-Faction Law
Flávio votes Yes, and the Senate passes the anti-faction bill 64 to 0[7]
17 Dec. 2025 · Sentencing bill
A week later, Flávio votes Yes on the bill that reduces sentences for Jair Bolsonaro and those convicted over January 8. Final vote: 48 to 25[2][3]
30 Apr. 2026 · Lula's veto
Congress overrides Lula's veto of the sentencing bill. Flávio votes to override it[8]
June 2026 · Security committee
Chair of the Senate security committee, Flávio had attended one of its 2026 meetings by then[9]
22 Aug. 2026 · Maracanãzinho
The criminal will be taken out of circulation, standing or lying down.[1]
The anti-crime package also has parts Jair Bolsonaro signed into law. The timeline shows only the veto and the override[4][5].
Tough on some
Anti-faction one week, lighter sentences the next
Flávio voted Yes on the Anti-Faction Law, passed 64 to 0[7]. A week later, he voted to reduce the sentences of those convicted over January 8 and the coup plot, Jair Bolsonaro among them[2][3]. Supporters of the bill argued the sentences were disproportionate.
In April, Flávio voted to override Lula's veto and keep that reduction[8].
Absent chair
He chairs the committee, but doesn't attend
Flávio has chaired the Senate Public Security Committee since early 2025. By June, according to O Globo, it had met seven times in 2026, and Flávio attended one meeting[9]. No major initiative was passed.
In more than seven years in the Senate, only two proposals he co-authored took effect, and neither deals with security. He was rapporteur of the 2024 law on prisoners' temporary furloughs[10].
Women
Three proposals in 24 years
Guns
Guns for whom?
Under his father's government, CACs grew from 117,467 to 783,385, more than six times[6]. According to the TCU audit court, 82.58% of those registered from 2019 to 2022 had flaws or missing data[12]. According to the Federal Police, a PCC member bought a rifle with Army authorization[13].
According to the Sou da Paz Institute, a couple used CAC registration to buy 26 rifles bound for the Comando Vermelho[14]. On October 25, the choice is yours.
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References14 sources
- 01DGABC (Estadão Conteúdo) · Flávio sobre combate ao crime: Bandido será tirado de circulação em pé ou deitadoFlávio: “The criminal will be taken out of circulation, standing or lying down,” at the Maracanãzinho.(opens in a new tab)
- 02CartaCapital · Saiba como votou cada senador no PL da Dosimetria“Flávio Bolsonaro: Sim” on the sentencing bill.(opens in a new tab)
- 03Poder360 · Senado aprova reduzir penas de Bolsonaro e condenados do 8 de JaneiroThe bill reduces sentences for Bolsonaro and those convicted over January 8; 48 votes to 25 and one abstention.(opens in a new tab)
- 04Planalto · Mensagem nº 726, de 24 de dezembro de 2019Veto of the aggravating factor for homicide with a restricted or prohibited firearm, which “violates the principle of proportionality”.(opens in a new tab)
- 05Planalto · Lei nº 13.964, de 24 de dezembro de 2019Art. 121, § 2, item VIII is marked “Promulgação partes vetadas”: Congress overrode the veto.(opens in a new tab)
- 06CNN Brasil · Brasil registrou aumento de CACs e armas de fogo em 2022; apreensões caíramCACs grew from 117,467 in 2018 to 783,385 in 2022, more than six times.(opens in a new tab)
- 07Gazeta do Povo · Como votou cada senador na aprovação PL antifacção64 votes to 0; “Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ): Sim”.(opens in a new tab)
- 08Gazeta do Povo · PL da dosimetria: Como votou cada senador e deputado na derrubada do vetoFlávio voted to override Lula's veto of the sentencing bill.(opens in a new tab)
- 09Agência O Globo (Folha de Pernambuco) · Com foco em segurança na campanha, Flávio Bolsonaro se distancia do tema no mandatoFlávio has chaired the committee since 2025; seven meetings in 2026 with no major initiative; he attended one.(opens in a new tab)
- 10Folhapress (Acessa.com) · Flávio Bolsonaro mirou segurança, mas não teve projetos próprios transformados em leiOnly two proposals he co-authored took effect, with no link to security; rapporteur of the 2024 furlough law.(opens in a new tab)
- 11Agência Pública · Flávio Bolsonaro fez 3 propostas de lei sobre segurança da mulher em 24 anos de políticaThree proposals, none passed, one as a pre-candidate; no vote registered on the imprescriptible femicide amendment.(opens in a new tab)
- 12Congresso em Foco · 82% dos registros de CAC emitidos pelo exército apresentaram falhasTCU: of more than 813,000 people registered as CACs from 2019 to 2022, 82.58% had flaws or missing data.(opens in a new tab)
- 13A Gazeta · Integrante do PCC comprou fuzil com autorização do Exército, diz PFAccording to the Federal Police, in Operation Ludíbrio, a PCC member bought a rifle with Army authorization.(opens in a new tab)
- 14CNN Brasil · Cresce a participação de CAC's no crime organizado, aponta Instituto Sou da PazA couple used CAC registration to buy 26 T4 rifles to be passed on to the Comando Vermelho.(opens in a new tab)