BOGOTA — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree lifting a decade-long restriction on the public carrying of legally owned firearms, fulfilling a campaign promise to adopt a tougher approach to crime.
According to the BBC on Wednesday, the new decree allows Colombians who hold valid permits to carry registered firearms to take their weapons outside their homes without obtaining additional authorisation.
Defending the measure, De la Espriella said law-abiding citizens should not be prevented from defending themselves while criminals continued to carry illegal weapons.
“It is not right that criminals are armed to the teeth while decent people can’t defend themselves,” the president said.
He, however, stressed that the decree did not amount to unrestricted access to firearms, noting that existing regulations governing the legal ownership of guns would remain in force.
