Colombia’s national government has overturned a rule that for nearly ten years kept almost all civilian gun-carry permits suspended nationwide. Decree 1368 of 2026, signed on September 8 by President Abelardo De La Espriella, restores what officials call the “effectiveness” of individual carry permits already on the books, provided the holder has no specific restriction barring their use.
The move fulfills a campaign promise by De La Espriella and is already stirring debate. Since 2016, Colombians with a valid permit still had to apply for an additional special authorization before they could actually carry a firearm outside the home. Under the new decree, that extra bureaucratic step disappears because the blanket suspension it was tied to no longer exists.
Officials are quick to clarify that this does not amount to open carry for anyone who wants it. The decree explicitly states it “creates no new rights” and does not change the underlying requirements to obtain a permit in the first place. People without an existing valid authorization remain barred from carrying weapons, and permit holders may only carry the specific firearm listed on their document.
The decree also spells out exceptions: permits that are expired, individually suspended, canceled or revoked remain invalid, as do cases involving legal or judicial prohibitions, weapons under seizure, or permits that authorize only home storage rather than carrying. A retired officer noted that “possession” (keeping a gun at home) and “carrying” (taking it outside) have long been treated as legally distinct categories in Colombia.
You can read the full report at El Tiempo.
Source: El debate por la medida del Gobierno que levanta la suspensión general de permisos para el porte de armas de fuego (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
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