{
  "id": 6792170,
  "title": "Colombia’s president eases gun restrictions arguing citizens’ right to self-defense",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/colombias-president-eases-gun-restrictions-arguing-citizens-right-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T19:25:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Bogotá Post",
    "slug": "the-bogota-post",
    "url": "https://thebogotapost.com/colombias-president-eases-gun-restrictions-arguing-citizens-right-to-self-defense/56743/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colombia's right-wing president Abelardo de la Espriella has eased gun restrictions in a nation plagued by a high rate of firearm deaths, arguing that citizens' right to self-defense should be upheld. Speaking on September 8 via X, de la Espriella declared that citizens who follow the law should not be restricted while criminals continue to arm themselves illegally. His proclamation was followed by an official decree released by the Ministry of Defense.\n\nThe decision has drawn criticism, notably from Iván Cepeda, de la Espriella's rival in the 2026 elections. Cepeda argued that widespread and indiscriminate legal firearm carry in a country where hundreds of thousands have been murdered with firearms is a \"criminal decision,\" emphasizing that history proves the path to protecting human life is not through the proliferation of weapons.\n\nDespite Colombia's high rates of gun violence, the country maintains relatively restrictive gun laws, particularly when compared to nations like the United States. The right to own firearms is constitutionally guaranteed in Colombia, and adults aged 18 and above can possess guns, provided they undergo rigorous background checks that include criminal and mental health evaluations. Additionally, justification for the firearm's use, either for work or self-defense, must be provided, and automatic weapons remain off-limits.\n\nPreviously, right-wing administrations, including those of Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro, had backed restrictions on publicly carrying legally owned firearms, necessitating additional authorization for permit holders to bring their guns outside the home. De la Espriella's decree lifts this restriction, though the existing limitations on expired, suspended, or revoked permits remain intact.\n\nThe measure applies to approximately 700,000 individuals in Colombia who hold permits to carry firearms. De la Espriella assured good citizens who strictly adhere to the law that they would receive guarantees, while criminals would face the full force of the law. However, some opposition leaders have voiced their opposition to the move. Senator María Fernanda Cabal, a right-wing politician, supported the policy, asserting that countries that legally permit weapon carrying are the safest in the world. In contrast, Juan Fernando Cristo, a former Interior Minister, cautioned that returning to such measures would lead to increased violence, citing the United States as a poor example of the potential consequences.",
  "summary": "Colombia’s right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, is easing gun restrictions in a country with one of the highest rates of firearm deaths in South America. “For years, citizens who obey the law were restricted while criminals continued arming themselves to the teeth illegally. That has to change,” de la Espriella said on X on […] The post Colombia’s president eases gun restrictions…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}