Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella signed a new decree that eases restrictions on carrying legal firearms in public. The move lifts a suspension that had been in force since December 2015 and which required permit holders to apply for additional authorisation before taking their gun out of the home.
The president defended the decision by saying criminals are armed to the teeth while ordinary citizens cannot defend themselves. He vowed that the decree would not undermine public safety and that strict criteria for owning a gun will remain.
Under the suspended rule, even those with a valid carry permit could not move a firearm from their home without extra clearance. The ban, which was originally temporary for the 2015 holiday season, was extended yearly by successive presidencies across the political spectrum.
The decree is expected to affect almost 700,000 licensed citizens in Colombia, allowing them to take registered guns out of their homes if the permits remain current.
Senator Ariel Ávila of the Green Alliance, however, slammed the move as a grave error. He argued that letting legally owned guns roam freely could feed criminal networks, especially those belonging to splinter factions of the FARC and the Gulf Clan.
De la Espriella countered by citing recent operations that seized more than 15,000 illegal firearms, largely linked to these groups. He maintained that the decree will not compromise security and that the government will continue to target illicit possession.
