Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree lifting a decade-long restriction on the public carrying of legally owned firearms (Guns).
According to the BBC, the new decree allows Colombians who already hold valid permits to carry registered firearms to take them outside their homes without seeking additional authorisation.
De la Espriella defended the decision as part of his tougher approach to crime, arguing that law-abiding citizens should be able to defend themselves while criminals remain armed.
The president stressed that the move does not introduce unrestricted access to firearms. Existing requirements governing legal gun ownership will remain in force.
The restriction was first 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 extended by Santos and his successors, Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro.
Reports cited by Spanish newspaper El País indicate that the policy change could affect nearly 700,000 Colombians who already have legal firearm-carry permits.
Under the previous arrangement, permit holders were prohibited from taking their firearms outside their homes unless they obtained additional authorisation.
The decision has attracted criticism from some politicians. Green Alliance Party Senator Ariel Ávila described it as a “grave error”, warning that legally owned firearms could eventually end up in the hands of criminals.
Ávila also questioned the principle of allowing civilians to carry firearms, arguing that guaranteeing citizens’ security should remain the responsibility of the state.
De la Espriella rejected concerns that the policy would increase insecurity. He said security forces were continuing efforts to remove illegal weapons, adding that more than 15,000 illegal firearms had been seized so far this year.
He said many of the seized weapons were linked to members of breakaway factions of the Farc rebel group and the Gulf Clan criminal organisation.
The president maintained that the new decree would preserve existing controls on legal firearm ownership while giving authorised citizens greater freedom to carry their weapons.
