Colombia reactivates weapon permits with strict controls

The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, has signed this Tuesday a decree that nullifies the generalized suspension of permits for the carrying of firearms in the country, although he has emphasized that it does not imply "indiscriminate" use and that "strict" regulations on access and handling of weapons will remain in effect. In a message disseminated through his social networks, De la Espriella has defended his decision by appealing to the commitments made during the electoral campaign. "A man's word is his honor and I have honor. That is why I keep my word, and during the campaign I said that I was going to lift the suspension of permits for carrying firearms; there is no right for bandits to be armed to the teeth while decent people cannot defend themselves," the president explained. The head of state has emphasized that "99.9% of armed crimes are committed with 'illegal' weapons" and has insisted that controls will continue to be rigorous. "The requirements for carrying weapons remain very strict: individuals must meet physical, psychological, and emotional conditions, as well as have no criminal record or problems," he detailed, stressing that the demands for obtaining these permits are not being relaxed. De la Espriella has added that, between January 1 and September 3, Colombian security forces have confiscated 15,700 firearms, of which "14,179 were related to the commission of crimes." He also specified that 980 of those weapons are linked to narcoparamilitary structures, with 551 associated with the Gulf Clan and 339 with the National Liberation Army (ELN). "Only among those associated with the dissidents do we find 380 rifles and 65 mortars of 60 millimeters," the president specified in another message on social networks, before assuring that the government's objective is to remove all weapons from the hands of criminal organizations in the country.