Brasilia, January 18 (RHC)-- Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he regrets President Bolsonaro’s decision to loosen gun restrictions, proposing a different strategy instead.   “It would be better to arm the people with jobs and books,” said Lula in his Twitter account earlier this week.

Bolsonaro has signed a decree temporarily making it easier for Brazilians to buy guns and “guarantee the legitimate right to defense,” the first step toward a campaign promise to overturn regulations that have essentially prohibited civilians from bearing arms.

The decree, which will expire unless it is ratified within 120 days by Congress, will remove the "discretionary" role that federal police have played in approving civilians' requests to buy guns. Bolsonaro has said that decisions on who may or may not carry weapons are completely subjective.