Colombia's New President Eases Gun Carrying Restrictions

Wed Sep 09 2026 17:16:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella signs a decree that relaxes longstanding bans on carrying legal firearms in public, a move that could impact hundreds of thousands of gun owners.

President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree that lifts a decade-old suspension on carrying legally licensed firearms, arguing that citizens should not be left defenseless while criminals remain armed. The change will affect almost 700,000 gun owners who can now exit their homes with their registered weapons. Critics, such as Senator Ariel Ávila, warn that the policy may inadvertently empower criminals. De la Espriella maintains that strict controls on gun ownership will continue and that law enforcement remains focused on illegal armaments, citing recent seizures of weapons linked to rebel factions. This reform marks a significant shift in Colombia’s approach to gun control amid ongoing debates about public safety and individual rights.

Colombia's New President Eases Gun Carrying Restrictions

President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree that lifts a decade‑old ban on carrying legally licensed firearms in public.

De la Espriella, who campaigned on a tough‑crime platform, said the measure corrects the imbalance where armed criminals coexist with civilians who cannot defend themselves. The decree removes the suspension that required permit holders to obtain additional authorisation each time they went outside their homes.

He stresses that the new law will not lead to a “free‑for‑all” scenario and that strict controls over gun ownership will remain intact. According to Spanish newspaper El País, the reform will affect nearly 700,000 Colombians who already possess a valid carry permit, allowing them to exit their residences while keeping their firearms registered and up to date.

Green Alliance Party Senator Ariel Ávila condemns the move as a “grave error,” arguing that it exposes state forces to competition from armed civilians and risks weapons falling into criminal hands. Despite these concerns, de La Espriella maintains that security is not compromised, noting that law enforcement has seized over 15,000 illegal firearms so far this year, many linked to former FARC factions and the Gulf Clan gang.