Demonstrators Demand Tougher Gun Laws in Brazil

A group of protesters gather on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro - three days after 12 children were shot dead at a local school. 

They're calling on authorities to increase gun control measures. 

As red-stained Brazilian flags blow in the breeze - the activists hold signs with the names of the children who were lined up and shot point-blank.  

One demonstrator said security forces need to crack down on the availability of fire arms. 

[Antonio Costa, President, Toe De Paz]:              

"How is it that these weapons can be bought so easily and they get into the hands of criminals so easily too. No! We're here to ask the public authorities to take action to restrain the traffic of weapons and munitions in the city of Rio de Janeiro." 

Another protester says she didn't plan to take part, but was moved to show her sympathy to the victims' families. 

[Leticia Medonca, Protester]:              

"I was at the beach and, when I came out, I saw the protest. So I decided to participate to show my feelings for these families."  

While attacks in schools had been unheard of in the South American country, Rio is no stranger to violence.   

For years, the city's favelas have struggled with drug and gang-related violence - and police occasionally have running gun battles on the streets of the sprawling slums. 

But Thursday's attack by a 24-year-old former student at the school comes as the first such mass murder in the country's history.