Argentina Lifts Ban on Semiautomatic Weapons for Civilians

Argentina Lifts Ban on Semiautomatic Weapons for Civilians
Above: Argentina President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on June 17, 2025. Image copyright: Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

These gun reforms are reckless and dangerous, coming at a time when one in every two intentional homicides in Argentina involves firearms. Argentina's overwhelmed regulatory agency does not have enough inspectors to control the entire national territory, creating massive risks for weapons to be diverted to illegal markets or organized crime groups.

Right narrative

Semiautomatic weapons are legitimate tools for sporting purposes and self-defense, and ones that have long been deliberately misrepresented as assault weapons for fear-mongering purposes. Unlike fully automatic military weapons, they only fire one round per trigger pull. Law-abiding citizens deserve the right to protect themselves with effective firearms.

Metaculus Prediction


Public Figures


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