In brief
President Abelardo de la Espriella has lifted a decade‑old restriction that barred legal gun owners from carrying firearms in public. The decree, aimed at balancing security with citizens’ rights, allows permit holders to take their weapons out without additional authorization. While critics warn the change could feed criminal activity, the president insists controls on gun ownership remain strict and that law enforcement is actively seizing illegal firearms. The move will affect nearly 700,000 Colombians who already possess certified permits.
Colombia’s president loosens gun‑control rules
President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree that removes the long‑standing ban on carrying legal firearms in public.
In a statement, the president stressed it is wrong for criminals to be armed while ordinary citizens are denied self‑defence. He pledged that the decree does not create a “free‑for‑all” but keeps strict limits on who may own a weapon.
The decree repeals a suspension first introduced by former president Juan Manuel Santos in December 2015 for holiday security, which had been extended by successive administrations. Those with valid permits will now be able to take their firearms outside the home as long as their documentation remains current.
The policy is estimated to impact almost 700,000 permit holders, according to Spain’s El País. Critics, including Senator Ariel Ávila of the Green Alliance Party, label it a grave mistake that could funnel weapons to criminals.
De la Espriella argues the measure will not jeopardise security, noting that police have already seized over 15,000 weapons this year, many belonging to dissident factions of the former FARC rebel group and the Gulf Clan gang.
