Colombia lifts decade-long gun-carrying restrictions

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree lifting a decade-long restriction on the public carrying of legally owned firearms, fulfilling a campaign promise to adopt a tougher approach to crime.

According to the BBC on Wednesday, the new decree allows Colombians who hold valid permits to carry registered firearms to take their weapons outside their homes without obtaining additional authorisation.

Defending the measure, De la Espriella said law-abiding citizens should not be prevented from defending themselves while criminals continued to carry illegal weapons.

“It is not right that criminals are armed to the teeth while decent people can’t defend themselves,” the president said.

He, however, stressed that the decree did not amount to unrestricted access to firearms, noting that existing regulations governing the legal ownership of guns would remain in force.

While signing the decree, De la Espriella said the decision fulfilled a pledge he made during his presidential campaign.

“A man’s word is his honour, and I have honour, that’s why I keep my word,” he said.

The restriction was introduced in December 2015 by then-President Juan Manuel Santos as a temporary security measure during the Christmas and New Year period.

It was subsequently renewed annually by Santos and his successors, Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro, despite their differing political orientations.

Under the previous arrangement, even firearm owners with valid carry permits were barred from taking their weapons outside their homes unless they secured additional government authorisation.

Reports cited by Spanish newspaper El País indicated that the policy change could affect nearly 700,000 Colombians who already hold legal firearm-carry permits.They will now be allowed to carry their registered firearms outside their homes for as long as their permits remain valid.

The decision has, however, attracted criticism from some political figures.

Green Alliance Party Senator Ariel Ávila described the move as a “grave error”, warning that legally owned firearms could eventually fall into the hands of criminals.

Ávila also questioned the principle of allowing civilians to carry firearms, arguing that the state should remain responsible for guaranteeing the security of citizens.

De la Espriella dismissed concerns that the policy could worsen insecurity, saying security forces were continuing their crackdown on illegal firearms.

He said authorities had seized more than 15,000 illegal firearms so far this year, many of which he said were linked to breakaway factions of the Farc rebel group and the Gulf Clan criminal organisation.

The president maintained that the new policy would preserve existing controls on legal firearm ownership while giving authorised citizens greater capacity to defend themselves.

BBC