Colombia Lifts Gun Permit Suspension, Restores Valid Licenses
President Abelardo de la Espriella signed Decree 1368 ending a years-long blanket suspension, allowing holders of valid permits to carry without extra authorization while maintaining existing controls.
KEY POINTS
- Decree 1368 lifts general suspension of gun carry permits effective September 8, 2026
- Valid individual permits reactivated without need for special authorization
- Existing controls under Decree Law 2535 of 1993 remain unchanged
- Expired, suspended, cancelled, or revoked permits excluded
- Move follows deadly car bombing; president promises tough security response
Colombia's government lifted the general suspension on firearm carry permits on September 8 through Decree 1368, issued by the Ministry of National Defense. President Abelardo de la Espriella said the restriction had left law-abiding citizens at a disadvantage against criminals who remained armed illegally.
The decree reactivates individual carry permits that are currently valid and unrestricted. Military authorities must restore their effectiveness, provided no specific restriction applies to the holder or the weapon. Expired, suspended, cancelled, or revoked permits remain invalid.
“I signed the decree lifting the general suspension of firearm carry permits in Colombia. For years the law-abiding citizen was restricted while criminals kept arming themselves illegally to the teeth. That has to change.”
Officials emphasized the change does not create open carry or new rights. Requirements and controls under Decree Law 2535 of 1993 stay in force. The measure only removes the extra special authorization that had been required on top of a valid permit.
The announcement followed a car bombing that killed one person and injured eleven. De la Espriella pledged an "iron fist" response to violence while framing the permit change as restoring balance for legal gun owners.
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