Colombia Eases Gun Control Restrictions Under New President
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has enacted a decree allowing nearly 700,000 permit holders to carry firearms in public. This decision reverses a decade-long suspension of such privileges.
Sources
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree that allows nearly 700,000 people with legal permits to carry firearms in public, lifting a decade-long suspension initially imposed by former President Juan Manuel Santos in December 2015. De la Espriella has emphasized that this change is in line with his campaign promise to allow citizens to defend themselves against armed criminals while maintaining strict controls over gun ownership. Opposition Senator Ariel Ávila criticized the move as a "grave error," warning that it could lead to legally held guns falling into the hands of criminals, despite de la Espriella's claim that it would not negatively impact security, evidenced by the seizure of over 15,000 illegal firearms this year.