BOGOTÁ, Colombia.- The Colombian government lifted the general suspension on firearm carry permits in Colombia Tuesday through a decree signed by President Abelardo de la Espriella. The decree keeps the requirements and controls established for legally obtaining that authorization.
The measure restores the validity of individual permits that remain current, but it does not represent a general authorization for any citizen to carry a firearm. Authorities will maintain the corresponding procedures and controls.
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De la Espriella justified the decision by arguing that the suspension affected citizens who comply with legal requirements while criminal organizations continued using illegal weapons. Lifting the restriction had been one of his campaign promises.
Firearm permits that have expired, been suspended, canceled or revoked are not reactivated by the decree. They also cannot be used by people subject to legal or judicial prohibitions.
The president said the requirements remain strict and include physical, psychological and emotional conditions, along with the corresponding checks to determine whether applicants have criminal records.
The general suspension on carrying firearms had been in force since 2015 and continued under the administrations of Juan Manuel Santos, Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro. The new decree changes that policy without eliminating the permit and control system.
As part of his argument, De la Espriella said Colombian authorities seized 15,700 firearms between January 1 and September 3 of this year, including 14,179 connected to the commission of crimes.
The president also linked some of the confiscated weapons to criminal organizations and armed groups, including the Gulf Clan, the National Liberation Army, or ELN, and FARC dissidents.
De la Espriella said the authorities’ priority will be to pursue and remove illegal weapons held by criminal organizations, while citizens who meet the requirements may use legally valid permits.
The decision opens a new stage in Colombia’s firearm policy, although the government maintains that existing controls will remain in place and that the decree does not establish indiscriminate carrying.
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