BRASILIA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will issue a decree next week to make it easier for citizens to own a gun, Onyx Lorenzoni, the president's chief of staff, said Tuesday.

Photo: Xinhua

Bolsonaro, who took office Jan. 1, is eager to issue the decree because it was one of his key campaign promises, said Lorenzoni.

"A promise made is a promise kept," he said, following a meeting with the Brazilian president and his cabinet.

Critics of the proposed decree -- which will allow any Brazilian of legal age with no criminal record to purchase a gun -- say such changes in legislation should be debated in Congress rather than made by presidential decree.

Some 61 percent of Brazilians oppose making it easier to own a gun, according to a poll released last week by pollster Datafolha.

During his cabinet meeting, Bolsonaro also spoke of the need to "materialize" other campaign promises, including deregulating industry in environmental matters.