LETTER FROM BUENOS AIRES

In Argentina, the change in legislation was celebrated by the government, in capital letters, on social media network X. "Historic: people over 18 will be able to become legitimate users of [firearms]," said Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on December 11, 2024, as libertarian president Javier Milei celebrated his first year in office. Until then, access to "legitimate user accreditation" in order to obtain a weapon, entailed being at least 21 years old, in addition to the endorsement of a mental and physical examination, a clean criminal record and a certificate of aptitude. Like many government reforms, this lowering of the legal age was decided by decree, without prior parliamentary debate.

"From the age of 16, you can vote. From the age of 18, you can go to war, start a family or be a member of the security forces. And, although it sounds incredible, at any age it is possible to decide on a sex change [of gender, according to Argentine law] that marks you for life. So why shouldn't it be possible to be a legitimate user or bearer of a weapon at 18?" said Bullrich, pushing the president's anti-progressive, security-oriented line.

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