Colombia’s New President Eases Gun‑Carry Rules, Stirring Debate

Wed Sep 09 2026 17:17:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Abelardo de la Espriella has lifted a decade‑old restriction that barred licensed holders from carrying guns in public, sparking calls for tighter controls.

In a move that echoes his campaign promise of a hard stance on crime, President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree easing restrictions on carrying legal firearms in public. The measure will affect roughly 700,000 Colombians who hold a valid permit, allowing them to take their registered guns outside their homes. Critics argue the change could let illegal guns slip into the hands of criminals, while the President insists safeguards remain in place and law‑enforcement units are already targeting illicit weaponry. The decree ends a temporary suspension that had been extended under four former presidents, underscoring a shift in Colombia’s approach to gun regulation.

Colombia’s New President Eases Gun‑Carry Rules

President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree that removes a seven‑year suspension prohibiting licensed gun holders from carrying firearms in public. The order will affect almost 700,000 Colombians who hold a valid permit for carrying a gun.

De la Espriella explained that the move, promised during the campaign, “is not right that criminals are armed to the teeth while decent people cannot defend themselves.” He pledged that the decree would not open a free‑for‑all; controls over who may own a gun will still be in place.

The prohibition was first introduced by President Juan Manuel Santos in December 2015 as a temporary measure for the Christmas and New Year holidays. It was routinely extended by each successive administration – the conservative Iván Duque and the left‑wing Gustavo Petro – and had never been intended to be permanent.

According to El País, the reinstated permissions allow gun owners to take their registered weapon out of their homes, provided their permits remain up to date.

Green Alliance Party Senator Ariel Ávila labelled the change a grave error, warning that legally held guns could end up in the hands of criminals and arguing that only state forces should be armed to guarantee security.

De la Espriella countered by stating that civil security will not be harmed. He highlighted that law‑enforcement forces are actively targeting illegal firearms, having seized more than 15,000 weapons this year – chiefly from dissident factions of the former Farc rebel group and the Gulf Clan gang.

While the president touted the decree as a fulfillment of his campaign pledge – “A man's word is his honour, and I have honour, that’s why I keep my word” – the policy has already set off a sharp debate over the balance between individual rights and national security in Colombia.