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Argentina lifted a 30-year prohibition on its citizens owning semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles on Wednesday, as part of President Javier Milei’s initiative to deregulate gun ownership.
The new reform, published in the government gazette, permits “legitimate users” to “acquire and possess semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines, akin to assault rifles, carbines, or submachine guns derived from military firearms.”
Previously, these types of weapons were purchased and owned exclusively by military personnel.
While serving as a Congress member, Milei supported the unrestricted carrying of firearms, but during his 2023 presidential campaign, he stated he had no intention of fully deregulating gun ownership.
Nonetheless, his administration has significantly eased the country’s gun regulations. In late 2024, the government reduced the minimum age for gun ownership from 21 to 18.
In May of this year, the government introduced a quick online application process for civilians seeking gun licenses for sporting purposes. According to government statistics, fewer than a million of Argentina’s 45 million residents hold a gun license.
