De La Espriella announces firearm permit changes

par Giantkebab: Colombia

Colombia's security cannot continue to be built by disarming the citizen who complies with the law and leaving the bandits armed, a reality President De La Espriella addressed directly. He signed the decree that lifts the general suspension of permits for carrying firearms in Colombia, ending a policy where citizens who comply with the law were restricted while criminals continued to arm themselves illegally up to their teeth. That has to change. The figures show where the real threat lies: from January 1st to September 3rd, our Public Force seized 15,700 firearms. Of these, 14,179 were related to the commission of crimes. In addition, 980 weapons are linked to dissidents, 551 to the Gulf Clan, and 339 to the ELN. Among those associated with dissidents alone, we find 380 rifles and 65 60-millimeter mortars. That is the firepower that the State must pursue and destroy. Let it be clear: this does NOT mean indiscriminate carrying. Strict controls, requirements, and permits from the competent authorities remain in place. What ends is the general suspension that turned the prohibition into the rule. To the good citizen who rigorously complies with the law, guarantees within the law. To the criminal armed illegally, all the weight of the law and all the legitimate force of the State. We are going to take the illegal weapons away from the criminals.