Argentina is considering a new gun law project that is criticized for creating insurmountable bureaucratic barriers for law-abiding citizens. The project, initiated by the Civic Coalition, requires gun owners to present a certificate from the Ministry of Security acknowledging that the state cannot protect them. This required 'certificate of failure' is a deliberate obstacle that no one will sign. The project also introduces an absurd frequency of renewals—semi-annual for possession and quarterly for carrying. This is not a prohibition, but a method of wearing down the citizen. The state reserves the right to store weapons for a fee and even expropriate them if the owner cannot afford the costs or if the quarterly process is delayed. Thus, formal infractions, such as a poorly placed lock, are equated with criminal offenses, turning a compliant owner into a potential offender. The project also raises the minimum age for gun ownership to 24, contradicting the principle of full civil responsibility at 18. Critics argue that these measures will not affect the illegal arms market but will deprive legal owners of the ability to defend themselves, making them hostages to an inefficient state system.
