Colombian Gun Laws

[OrlandoGringo]

Is anyone here familiar with Colombian gun laws?  Can citizens purchase and carry guns?  Just curious.  Thanks. 

[JimD]

Yes citizens can apply for and get a legal permit to carry a weapon. How ever it is a lengthy process and can take many months. The application has to be submitted to the army (in Cali you would do it at the base "La Batallon" on Calle 5ta) and in the event it is granted you must purchase the gun there as well. The licence is very specific and even states the number of bullets your gun carries and you´re not allowed to have more than that on your person. I lawyer I use told me he could speed up the process if I wanted one. Also there are occaisionally days during festivos or elections etc. when you´re not allowed to have even a legal gun on you. 

[OrlandoGringo]

Thanks Jim!

[beginthebeguin]

One more expense to add to my budget next year. jeesh!!!! 

[robert angel]

Yes citizens can apply for and get a legal permit to carry a weapon. How ever it is a lengthy process and can take many months. The application has to be submitted to the army (in Cali you would do it at the base "La Batallon" on Calle 5ta) and in the event it is granted you must purchase the gun there as well. The licence is very specific and even states the number of bullets your gun carries and you´re not allowed to have more than that on your person. I lawyer I use told me he could speed up the process if I wanted one. Also there are occaisionally days during festivos or elections etc. when you´re not allowed to have even a legal gun on you.

That sounds downright rightous, compared to the Philippines. There, the penalty for being caught with a firearm over there is a minimum of 4 and a half years in prison for 38 caliber and below pistols (that even INCLUDES 'Airsoft' type plastic pellet shooting guns), and a lot longer in prison for above 38/357 caliber.
After a few weeks in one of their prisons, you'd wish you'd got the death penalty anyway....

The below is all I could find for PHILIPPINE citizens--I'm sure it's a lot worse for foreigners...
 
RA 8294 has lowered the penalties for illegal possession of firearms and bases  the penalty imposable on whether the involved firearm is high or low powered.  The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period (with an  imprisonment duration of 4 years, 6 months and 1 day to 6 years) and a fine of  not less than P15,000.00 shall be imposed for unlawful possession of a low  powered firearm, and prision mayor in its minimum period (with an  imprisonment duration of 6 years and 1 day to 8 years) and a fine of not less  than P30,000.00 for unlawful possession of high powered firearm.

Read more at Suite101: Law on Firearms in the Philippines | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/law-on-firearms-in-the-philippines-a245876#ixzz1OnfyHoEp

[Jeff S]

Here I thought life in a Philippine prison was all fun and games:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

[mudd]

you gotta   wonder how safe of a city or country your visiting or living in, if you feel the need to carry a handgun. are you really that big of a target ?  that's pretty sad i would say.

[ignorante]

you gotta   wonder how safe of a city or country your visiting or living in, if you feel the need to carry a handgun. are you really that big of a target ?  that's pretty sad i would say.

  I live in the U.S., which is safer than Colombia, and carry a gun habitually.  You find it sad.  So be it.  I find it a lot sadder when people are victimized, but it could have been avoided by carrying a gun and knowing how to use it.  It also brings a smile to my face every time I read about a woman or man shooting a violent criminal.  One need not be a "big target" for human scum to attack and take a life . . .  happens all the time.
 

[JimD]

Ignorante I´m not sure the US is safer than Colombia. I think there´s a lot more fatal car accidents there. Also since you brought it up, have you ever had to draw your gun on anyone to defend yourself? Curious how that works. In Colombia, except maybe for a late night at a disco, a gun comes out it´s a robbery. If the cel (most popular robbery item) is handed over everything is cool and the victim continues on his way. If he doesn´t then it´s ka-pow!

[ignorante]

Also since you brought it up, have you ever had to draw your gun on anyone to defend yourself?

  Yes, but it is not really a fair question for me because I was a police officer for a long time.  I did, however, see the results of guns in the hands of the peaceable and law abiding citizens, including a woman who shot her stalker dead as he was in the process of abducting her with a large knife.
 
I do not think my firearm is a magic talisman that protects me from harm, but it definitely increases the odds in my favor, and I will never be left begging for mercy from someone who has none, asking them to spare me and/or my family members.

[Jeff S]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xUCI3nJsQ&feature=related

[benjio]

Great line from a western called Shane:
 
"A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man wielding it. ..."
 
I'm from Texas. Here, we carry guns. It's normal. I don't know many people without one...including women. I've never had to fire any of mine at anyone and hope I never will, but being in a situation when you really need one and not having it is something I can't accept.

[JimD]

being in a situation when you really need one and not having it is something I can't accept.

You must not feel very comfortable in Colombia then what with the reputation it has etc.

[OrlandoGringo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xUCI3nJsQ&feature=related

Very compelling.  Every person should watch this video.  Thanks for sharing.

[OrlandoGringo]

I look at a gun as insurance that will hopefully never be needed.  The gun and licensing, ammo, training, etc. cost me less than a $1,000. 
The odds are always with one in that they'll likely never need a gun just like the odds are always on the side of the homeowner in that their house is unlikely to burn down.  But what if the unlikely happens to them?  If they don't have homeowner's insurance then they're out their house!  As in the video that was shared in this thread, if just one person had carried a gun they could have stopped the mass-murderer and saved lives, including their own as well as the lives of their loved ones.