Uruguay Gun Owners Protest Proposed Regulations, Citing Unfair Targeting

Proposed government regulations on firearms have sparked protests from gun owners and drawn support from opposition parties in Uruguay. The government aims to enhance public safety through stricter controls on the sale and possession of weapons.

Associations and civilians, including hunters and gun shop representatives, gathered outside the Legislative Palace to voice their opposition to what they call "harmful initiatives." They specifically criticized proposals from the administration of Mayor Yamandú Orsi. The Minister of the Interior, Carlos Negro, announced plans for a bill and an executive decree to increase penalties for illegal arms trafficking, altered serial numbers, and unauthorized carrying of weapons, along with tighter ammunition regulations.

“

If the goal is to reduce violence and combat crime, actions must be directed towards the illegal arms market, organized crime, and criminals, not towards those who are already registered and subjected to state control. Restrictions on honest citizens do not disarm the criminal.

Protesters asserted their rights as "legitimate users" of firearms, arguing they are unjustly "pointed at." They contend that efforts to reduce violence should target the illegal arms market, organized crime, and criminals, not law-abiding citizens who are already registered and state-controlled. Opposition senators and deputies attended the demonstration to show support, promising to consider the protesters' position during legislative debates.

Minister Negro stated that the ministry's primary concern is weapons in the hands of criminals, not the disarmament of civilians who possess firearms legally and with proper controls. Official data indicates 617,327 registered firearms in Uruguay, excluding those used by police and military, equating to roughly one legal firearm for every 5.7 people. Uruguay has the highest number of firearms per 100,000 civilians in South America, with 34.7, nearly double that of Brazil. Experts estimate an additional 400,000 unregistered firearms are in circulation.

“

Our main concern is precisely the weapons in the hands of criminals. No one within this ministry intends to disarm the civilian population that has its weapons with due care and the legitimate controls required.