Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree ending a decades-old rule that barred citizens from carrying firearms in public for self-defense, even if they already held a valid gun permit.
Under the restriction, first put in place in December 2015 by then-President Juan Manuel Santos, gun owners had to obtain a separate, additional authorization before they could carry their firearms outside the home. That requirement is now gone under De la Espriella’s decree.
De la Espriella made the change after campaigning on a tough-on-crime platform. He argues that arming law-abiding citizens is a direct extension of that promise.
“It is not right that criminals are armed to the teeth while decent people can’t defend themselves,” De la Espriella said.
On September 8, 2026, he posted on X: “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 the decree does not mean police will ease up on criminals. He made clear that law enforcement will keep going after and disarming criminal elements in Colombian society.
