Colombian lawmakers want to propose a bill that allows mayors to decree a full ban on carrying weapons as new Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro wants in the capital, newspaper el Espectador reported Tuesday.
According to the newspaper, three opposition senators from the socialist Polo Democratico announced to be proposing a bill in March that would take jurisdiction on the banning of weapons from the Army to local governments.
The proposal has the support of Rodolfo Palomino, the National Police’s citizen security commander, who on Monday backed Petro’s plan to entirely ban the carrying of weapons in Bogota.
However, the Army — who now has jurisdiction over whether to decree a prohibition on the carrying of firearms — has not made any definitive pronouncements on the matter. General Gabriel Pinilla, the commander of the Bogota-based 18th Brigade, told El Tiempo that he is waiting for an invitation by the newly installed Bogota government to discuss the matter.
“We will listen to the mayor to learn about the goal of the proposal and will evaluate whether it will have positive results. The Brigade is willing to support the policies of the administration,” Pinilla told the newspaper.
Medellin mayor Anibal Gaviria told RCN Radio he supports Petro, while according to El Tiempo, the mayors of Barranquilla and Cartagena object to the proposed gun control.
