Uruguay Gun Debate: Importers and Collectors Push Back Against Proposed Firearm Limits

Uruguay’s Senate is at the center of a heated debate over gun control, as importers and collectors challenge new legislative proposals they say threaten constitutional rights. During a meeting of the Senate Security and Coexistence Commission on Wednesday, key stakeholders—including the Chamber of Firearm Importers, collectors, gunsmiths, and shooting range operators—voiced strong opposition to two bills under consideration.

The first bill, introduced by senators from the Frente Amplio (FA) in the previous legislative term, proposes a limit of three registered firearms per person. The second, sponsored by National Party Senator Carlos Camy, allows up to eight. A third initiative by FA deputy Alejandro Zavala has also been submitted in the Chamber of Deputies. The regulatory landscape includes a National Public Security Plan that treats gun proliferation as a ‘cross-cutting facilitator of violence,’ plus a ministerial decree yet to be revealed.

Importers were particularly critical of the FA bill. Representative Juan Manuel Jiménez argued that it ‘directly speaks of a civil disarmament’ and violates constitutional provisions that recognize firearm possession as a right. He also noted that businesses already send transaction data to the Interior and Defense ministries, but this information is not being analyzed.

Collectors, represented by the Uruguayan Association of Collectors of Arms and Ammunition (Aucam), focused on the proposed limits. Secretary Julio César Lestido questioned what would happen to those who own more than three guns, calling Camy’s eight-gun limit ‘adequate.’ He added, ‘Limiting them to three is very little, considering 600,000 registered firearms in citizens’ hands.’

Uruguay has 617,327 registered firearms, leading South America in guns per capita with a rate of 34.7 per 100,000 civilians, according to the Interior Ministry. Globally, a 2017 Small Arms Survey ranked Uruguay sixth with Canada in guns per 100 inhabitants. The debate continues as the government weighs public safety against individual rights.

Article and image source: lr21.com.uy