Colombia's new president loosens gun control rules

Fonte da imagem, Fernando Vergara/Pool via REUTERS Legenda da imagem, Abelardo de la Espriella venceu a eleição presidencial em junho com a promessa de ser rigoroso contra o crime.

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Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has signed a decree which eases restrictions on people carrying legal firearms in public.

De la Espriella, who during his campaign for the presidency promised to take an iron-fist approach to crime, said it was "not right that criminals are armed to the teeth while decent people can't defend themselves.

O decreto revoga uma suspensão que estava em vigor há uma década, o que significa que mesmo aqueles que possuem licença para portar armas não poderiam fazê-lo sem autorização adicional.

De la Espriella insistiu que o decreto não criaria um caos e que controles rígidos sobre quem pode possuir uma arma permaneceriam em vigor.

While signing the decree, the president said he had made good on his campaign promise: "A man's word is his honour, and I have honour, that's why I keep my word.

The restriction on carrying legal guns in public was brought in by the then-President Juan Manuel Santos in December 2015. It was originally meant to be a temporary measure, aimed at improving security during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

But the suspension was extended yearly by Santos and two subsequent presidents from opposing sides of the political spectrum: conservative Iván Duque and left-wing Gustavo Petro.

Sob a lei, mesmo aqueles com permissão para portar arma não podiam tirá‑la de suas casas a menos que solicitassem – e fossem concedidas – autorização adicional.

De la Espriella has insisted that his decree has removed a restriction which had never been meant to be permanent.

According to Spanish newspaper El País, the decree will affect almost 700,000 people in Colombia who are already in possession of a legal permit to carry a gun.

Eles agora poderão levar sua arma registrada para fora de casa, desde que suas licenças permaneçam atualizadas.

Green Alliance Party Senator Ariel Ávila described the move as a "grave error", arguing that legally held guns would end up in the hands of criminals.

Ávila insisted that it created an ethical dilemma, as it should only be state forces that carry guns and act as guarantors of people's security.

De la Espriella insistiu que a medida não afetaria negativamente a segurança do país e disse que as forças estavam mirando quem possui armas ilegais e já apreenderam mais de 15.

Most of them, according to de la Espriella, belonged to members of breakaway factions of the Farc rebel group and the Gulf Clan criminal gang.

Líder rebelde suposto morto na Colômbia enquanto presidente mira grupos armados.