COLOMBIA RESTORES GUN-CARRYING RIGHTS AFTER DECADE-LONG SUSPENSION

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has lifted a decade-long nationwide suspension on carrying legally registered firearms in public, allowing citizens with valid permits to carry their weapons outside their homes. The president signed Decree 1368 as part of his administration’s tougher approach to combating crime and fulfilling a major campaign promise.

The new policy does not introduce unrestricted access to firearms. Colombians must still meet existing requirements and obtain valid permits before they can legally carry a weapon. The government said the change only removes the general suspension that had prevented permit holders from routinely carrying their registered firearms in public. About 700,000 people could potentially be affected by the policy.

De la Espriella defended the decision by arguing that law-abiding citizens should have the ability to protect themselves while criminal groups continue to possess illegal weapons. He said the government would maintain strict controls over legal gun ownership while intensifying efforts to seize firearms held by criminal organisations. Colombian authorities reportedly seized 15,700 firearms between January 1 and September 3, with 14,179 linked to crimes, according to figures cited by the president.

The policy reverses a restriction introduced in 2015, when then-President Juan Manuel Santos suspended civilian gun carrying after studies indicated that greater availability of firearms could contribute to violent injuries and deaths. Successive administrations, including those of Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro, maintained the suspension despite their differing political positions.

The move has already attracted criticism from some political figures and security experts, who fear that expanding the number of civilians carrying firearms could increase the risk of weapons being diverted into criminal hands. Supporters, however, argue that responsible citizens should not be left defenceless against armed criminals. The policy is therefore expected to remain a major point of debate as Colombia's new government pursues a more aggressive security strategy.