Argentina has overturned a 30-year-old ban on the civilian ownership of semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles, marking a significant shift in the country’s gun laws under far-right President Javier Milei.
The reform, officially published on Wednesday in the government gazette, allows so-called “legitimate users” to acquire and possess semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines—types previously restricted to military use, including assault rifles, carbines, and submachine guns.
Previously, only the military was authorised to buy and hold such weapons.
While Milei, a former Congress member, championed the right to carry firearms freely, he stated during his 2023 presidential campaign that he did not intend to fully deregulate gun ownership. However, since taking office, his administration has loosened firearm regulations significantly.
In late 2024, Argentina reduced the minimum legal age for gun ownership from 21 to 18. This May, the government introduced a fast-track online application for gun licenses for civilians who intend to use their weapons for sport shooting.
Currently, fewer than one million of Argentina’s 45 million people hold gun licenses, with two-thirds of those licenses reportedly expired, according to government data.
