In brief
President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree that relaxes a ten‑year prohibition on carrying legal firearms in public. The move, aimed at empowering law‑abiding citizens, faces criticism from opposition politicians who warn that it could put weapons in the hands of criminals. The decree lifts the extra authorisation required by the last president’s rule, affecting nearly 700,000 permit holders. De la Espriella maintains that strict ownership controls remain and that the measure will not undermine national security.
By Vanessa Buschschlüter, Latin America online editor
Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in as Colombia’s president in June, has signed a decree that removes a decade‑long ban on carrying legal firearms in public. The decree, which the president announced during a ceremony in Barranquilla, allows permit holders to take their registered weapons out of their homes without seeking additional authorisation.
During the swearing‑in, de la Espriella said, “It is not right that criminals come armed to the teeth while decent people cannot defend themselves.” He vowed that the measure would not lead to a free‑for‑all, stressing that ownership laws and background checks remain in place.
The suspension had first been imposed by President Juan Manuel Santos in December 2015 as a temporary measure for the holiday season but was renewed annually, crossing political lines, by the conservative Iván Duque and then‑left‑wing Gustavo Petro. According to Spanish newspaper El País, the decree will affect almost 700,000 Colombians who already possess a legal permit to carry a gun.
Senator Ariel Ávila of the Green Alliance Party called the move a “grave error” and warned that legally held weapons could eventually end up in the hands of armed groups. De la Espriella countered that the policy would not harm security, noting that police forces have seized more than 15,000 firearms this year—most of which belong to dissident factions of the Farc rebel group and the Gulf Clan criminal gang.
The decree signals a shift from the president’s campaign mantra of an iron‑fist approach to crime. While critics fear a spike in gun‑related incidents, de la Espriella insists that his commitment to public safety will be upheld.
