A photograph of Alberto João Jardim, then president of the Regional Government of Madeira, holding a Beretta rifle aloft, taken on August 28, 2011, at the inauguration of a shooting complex in Porto Santo, has resurfaced. The image generated controversy at the time, going beyond a simple "joke" gesture.
The shooting complex, which included a training field, clay pigeon shooting, and paintball, was operating without a definitive license from the PSP (Public Security Police), although the president of the Porto Santo Hunters Association assured the legality of the premises. The report by DIÁRIO da Madeira highlighted the issue of the operating license's legality.
Jardim's gesture with the rifle also raised legal questions. The Arms Act in force at the time defined restrictions on carrying short firearms (class B), but the weapon displayed by Jardim more closely resembled class C or D weapons, the carrying of which required a specific license. Public display of a weapon "out of context" could constitute a serious offense.
Sources connected to the club downplayed the episode, stating the weapon was unloaded and the situation occurred in a "safety zone." The incident is remembered as a peculiar episode of the former Madeiran leader's style, which, despite bordering on illegality, rarely had practical consequences.
