By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has signed a decree authorizing private citizens to purchase semiautomatic rifles in what a major U.S. gun rights organization is describing as a “bold action.”
According to the Buenos Aires Times, President Milei’s measure was also signed by Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos and Security Minister Patricia Bullrich. Both Milei and Bullrich have strong histories of support for individual gun rights in the South American country.
Hailing the announcement was the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, based in Washington state, USA.
“Clearly,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb in a prepared statement, “President Milei is a leader who trusts his citizens with the ability to keep and bear arms, and this is a major stride forward. Although Argentina does not have a Second Amendment, the country obviously does have intelligent leadership that understands the difference between law-abiding citizens and criminals.”
Argentina’s semi-auto ban was imposed in 1995, so it has been in effect for three decades. According to the Buenos Aires Herald, “The new law will allow civilians with a legal permit to purchase and own semiautomatic assault rifles, carbines, or machine guns with a detachable magazine of .22 LR caliber or above.”
One reason for the about-face on guns, according to the Herald, is that the restrictive gun laws “caused many irregular situations as people who owned these weapons died without being able to transfer property rights to other users.”
“It is necessary to address the possibility [that these kind of weapons] may be used in sport settings or other lawful activities, following an analysis of every situation conducted by the relevant authority,” the decree reads, according to the Herald report.
Gottlieb said President Milei’s action “truly defines genuine ‘gun reform.’ We think there are some politicians in our own country who could learn a few things from President Milei.” American gun prohibition lobbying groups and the establishment media have consistently and erroneously portrayed stricter gun control legislation as “gun reform.”
“We’re honestly impressed with the Milei administration’s announcement,” Gottlieb stated.
CCRKBA is a grassroots gun rights organization with more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide. It is the sister organization of the more prominent Second Amendment Foundation, an education and litigation powerhouse.
“This refreshing new development comes at a time when the United States is also experiencing a remarkable resurgence of administration adherence to our Constitution’s Second Amendment,” Gottlieb declared. “In just the first six months of Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has reversed the anti-gun demagoguery of his predecessor, and the Department of Justice is actually taking steps to support and defend our right to keep and bear arms within the legal system.”
Under former President Joe Biden, the firearms community, and especially small, independent federally-licensed gun dealers were targeted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with a “zero tolerance” policy which was designed to revoke their licenses for so much as minor clerical errors.
The Biden administration was accused of “weaponizing” federal agencies against his political foes, including gun owners.
