MARCO JURÍDICO DE LAS ARMAS Y MUNICIONES EN GUATEMALA

The legal framework for arms and ammunition in Guatemala has undergone significant development with the enactment of Decree 15-2009, known as the Law on Arms and Ammunition. Prior to this regulation, access to arms was widely permissive, which facilitated both legal purchases and illicit trafficking. The new law established the General Directorate for the Control of Arms and Ammunition (DIGECAM), responsible for regulating and supervising the possession and carrying of firearms, with the aim of curbing misuse and illegal trafficking. Despite these advances, legal loopholes remain that limit the effectiveness of regulation. The partial exclusion of military arms and the lack of adequate control over private security companies are two of the main issues the current legislation faces. Additionally, illicit trafficking remains a challenge, as the law does not fully cover all activities related to arms brokerage and transit. Although the law implemented arms marking and established controls over international transfers, the lack of clarity in arms classification and limited supervision of state institutions hinder effective control. Guatemala’s international commitments in this area require further strengthening of institutions and more comprehensive legislative reforms to address the proliferation of firearms and reduce armed violence in the country.危地马拉的枪支弹药法律框架随着第15-2009号法令（即《枪支与弹药法》）的颁布，实现了重大发展。在此项监管法规出台前，枪支获取渠道普遍宽松，既便利了合法购置行为，也为非法贩运创造了条件。新法案设立了枪支弹药管控总局（General Directorate for the Control of Arms and Ammunition，简称DIGECAM），负责监管和监督枪支的持有与携带，旨在遏制枪支滥用与非法贩运活动。尽管取得了上述进展，仍存在法律漏洞限制了监管实效。当前立法面临的两大核心问题包括：军用枪支的部分豁免条款，以及对私人安保公司缺乏充分管控。此外，非法贩运仍是一大挑战，因为该法律并未完全覆盖枪支经纪与过境相关的所有活动。尽管该法案推行了枪支标识制度，并建立了国际转让管控机制，但枪支分类标准模糊、国家机构监督力度不足，仍阻碍了有效管控的落地实施。危地马拉在该领域承担的国际义务，要求其进一步强化机构建设并推行更全面的立法改革，以应对国内枪支泛滥问题，降低武装暴力事件发生率。