Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella's administration is considering legalizing gun ownership for "decent" citizens, according to a leaked planning document. This move accompanies the rollout of armed "Urban Security Blocs," partially staffed by military veterans and reservists. This policy, which began as a campaign promise in July, has become one of the most contested initiatives in his first month in office, drawing comparisons to Colombia's paramilitary history from opposition senators and members of the U.S. Congress.
Opposition figures, including Senator Iván Cepeda and Representative Óscar Benavides, have likened the blocs to the Convivir cooperatives of the 1990s, which were linked to the rise of the AUC paramilitary group. Former AUC commander Salvatore Mancuso testified in 2023 that the Convivir were "the mother of the AUC." Concerns have also reached Washington, where three Democratic members of the U.S. House — Jesús García, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Greg Casar — introduced amendments to condition U.S. military assistance on human rights safeguards, fearing American resources could reach paramilitary-linked networks.
The policy shift is part of de la Espriella's broader "Patria Milagro" development plan, which includes ending former President Gustavo Petro's "Total Peace" policy, reviving the riot police unit ESMAD, constructing ten new maximum-security prisons, and fumigating 330,000 hectares of coca crops. De la Espriella confirmed the departure from "Total Peace" in an August 26 address, emphasizing a policy of "security, legality and authority of the state." His government has reported over 40 members of criminal organizations killed and nearly 800 arrested in its first month, particularly targeting FARC dissident groups.
Defense Minister Jorge Eduardo Mora announced an initial deployment of 2,000 police officers as part of the new Urban Security and Defense Blocs (Bodsu) in nine major cities, including Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Mora described this as a "trinity" approach involving government, citizens, and armed forces to combat high-impact crimes like homicide, extortion, and drug trafficking. The shift comes after homicides reportedly rose by 54,866 during Petro's four years in office, following a low of 11,957 in 2017 after the FARC peace deal.
De la Espriella has also warned mayors and governors against negotiating with illegal armed groups, asserting that he will ensure anyone who crosses this line faces justice. He has emphasized that his government will recover territorial control, attack illegal financing sources, and neutralize terrorist structures, stating, "whoever persists in crime must know that El Tigre is coming for him." This security offensive, alongside a record 2027 budget of $200 billion, marks a significant reversal of his predecessor's policies.
