Santa Catarina law on carry permits for sport shooters: what it does and does not guarantee

State Law 19.781 of April 1, 2026 recognizes, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina (SC), "the risk of the activity and the effective need to carry firearms" for sport shooters affiliated with a shooting organization. But it does not grant a carry permit. The authority that issues carry permits is still the Federal Police (Polícia Federal, PF), under federal Law 10.826/2003 (Lei 10.826/2003, the Disarmament Statute).

Note: the Supreme Federal Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, STF) has already struck down similar laws from other states. This text is for information only and does not replace legal advice or guidance from the Federal Police.

What does Santa Catarina Law 19.781/2026 say?

The law, also recorded in Legal Bulletin No. 202 of the Santa Catarina Attorney General's Office (PGE/SC), has three articles and was published in the State Official Gazette on April 6, 2026:

• Art. 1: "This Law recognizes, in the State of Santa Catarina, the risk of the activity and the effective need to carry firearms for sport shooters who are members of legally constituted sports organizations, under item IX of Art. 6 of federal Law No. 10.826 of December 22, 2003."
• Art. 2: the state Executive will regulate the law.
• Art. 3: the law applies from its publication.

The text covers only sport shooters and does not mention collectors or hunters.

Does the Santa Catarina law give sport shooters a carry permit?

No. Carry permits for permitted-use firearms are a power of the PF, under Art. 10 of Law 10.826/2003. On the gov.br page for the Obtain a Firearm Carry Permit service, the PF requires, among other things, that the application show "effective need due to a risky professional activity or a threat to their physical integrity".

A sport shooter in Santa Catarina who wants a carry permit must apply to the PF, with documents, assessments and the statement of effective need. The state law can be cited in the application, but the review and the decision remain with the PF. See the process in how to get a carry permit in 2026.

What does item IX, cited by the law, say?

Art. 6 of Law 10.826 bans carrying firearms throughout the country, with exceptions. Item IX covers "members of legally constituted sports organizations whose sporting activities require the use of firearms, as set out in the regulation of this Law".

Today, what sport shooters have under the federal rule is the transit carry, with a transit permit (guia de tráfego), to move the unloaded firearm on the route and within the period of the permit. See how to issue the transit permit in Sinarm CAC.

Has the STF ruled on similar laws?

Yes, more than once. The decisions below are in the STF's official news:

ADI is a direct action of unconstitutionality and ADPF a claim of noncompliance with a fundamental precept, both filed directly with the STF. In the 2024 decision, the rapporteur, Justice Nunes Marques, stated that the Constitution gives the federal government (União) power over this subject and that sport shooters are not on the list of exceptions in the Disarmament Statute. According to him, these laws created a "presumption of effective need for the category of sport shooters without support in the general governing law".

Is there an STF case against the Santa Catarina law?

As of October 19, 2026, we found no case against Law 19.781/2026 on the STF news portal. This may change, and we will update this text if there is news.

While the law is in force, it does not change the PF's authority or the federal requirements for a carry permit.