Colombia loosens gun restrictions after decade of tighter controls
The policy change has prompted fears of increased violence, but available information does not establish that violence has risen.
Colombia has eased gun restrictions that had been in place for more than a decade, according to Al Jazeera Global News.
The change has raised concerns that looser controls could contribute to further violence. Those concerns remain a risk assessment rather than evidence of an increase in violence resulting from the policy shift.
The available material does not identify which firearms laws were changed, when the changes took effect or who is now eligible to possess guns.
The move marks a change in Colombia’s approach after more than a decade of tighter restrictions. Its practical effect, including the scale of any increased access to firearms, is not specified.
Al Jazeera reported the policy change on 22 September 2026, amid warnings about its possible security consequences.
