There is no freedom without arms
The DEFENSE Institute was founded in Brazil in 2009, born from the urgent need to defend and reclaim the natural right to self-defense in a country increasingly marked by disarmament policies and political hostility toward individual freedom. Over the years, the Institute has become the largest pro-gun civil movement in Latin America, leading legal, educational, and political efforts to restore the dignity and autonomy of the Brazilian citizen.
We have fought in Congress, mobilized people in the streets, educated the public with data-driven information, and created the largest Portuguese-language platform on firearms in the world. Our message has echoed from local communities to national debates — always clear, unapologetic, and rooted in the belief that freedom is not given, it is taken, preserved, and defended.
Now, after more than a decade of national impact, we begin a new chapter: the global expansion of the DEFENSE Institute. We believe that every citizen, anywhere in the world, has the right to defend themselves, their families, and their way of life. Our mission now crosses borders — connecting people, cultures, and movements under a single banner: freedom through strength.
If you believe in this right, this fight is also yours.
Join us. Act. Speak out. Defend yourself.
United, we are invincible.
Our Values
Our core values guide our mission and our commitment to defending individual rights and personal security.
🔰 Freedom
We believe individual liberty is a natural, inalienable, and non-negotiable right. The right to defend oneself and protect one’s life and family is a direct extension of that liberty.
⚖️ Self-Defense
We uphold the moral and legal principle of self-defense. No society can be truly free if citizens lack the means to protect themselves from unjust aggression.
📢 Civic Responsibility
We promote the conscious and responsible use of firearms. Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand, and our commitment is to well-informed, prepared citizens.
📚 Quality Information
We fight misinformation with data, facts, and solid arguments. We produce and share unbiased, technical content grounded in both Brazilian and international reality.
🤝 Civic Engagement
We believe real change comes from direct social action. We encourage political participation, activism, and mobilization as legitimate tools for transformation.
🌐 Unity in Diversity
We are a movement open to all who believe in liberty — regardless of ideology, party, or creed. What unites us is the conviction that united we are invincible.
🏛️ Institutional Presence
We value institutional dialogue and strategic action in decision-making spaces. Our presence in Congress, on social media, and in the streets is firm, coherent, and respectful.
Our Team
Lucas Silveira
Founder and President of the DEFENSE Institute, Chief Instructor at ABA Intl
Specialist in armed combat, author of the book Introduction to Combat Shooting, creator of the TMM Method, and a national reference in the fight for the right to self-defense.
Dr. Marluz Lacerda Dalledone
Legal Advisor | Columnist
Lawyer with a strong background in civil defense, responsible for institutional legal support and for legal analyses published on the platform.
Lucas Parrini
Regional Director – Paraná | Columnist
Prominent activist in southern Brazil, local coordinator, and content producer for the DEFENSE platform.
Raphael Pontes
Documentation Consultant | Columnist
Specialist in the legal procedures for firearm acquisition and carry in Brazil, providing technical support to the public and specialized content.
Flavio Gavlouski
Expert in Self-Defense and Filipino Martial Arts | Columnist
Experienced instructor contributing with content focused on civilian self-defense and hand-to-hand combat techniques.
Sandro Christovam Bearare
Columnist
Technical and analytical content producer focused on security, legislation, and gun culture.
Kamila Morgado
Columnist
Communicator engaged in the cause of individual freedom, authoring articles and collaborating in awareness campaigns.
Márcio Serpe
Head of Accounting
Responsible for institutional financial management, ensuring transparency and compliance in all organizational operations.
(More names coming soon!)
