How strict are gun laws in Guatemala?
Permissive
Possession does not require a good reason, and long guns are shall-issue, indicating a permissive regime.
Guatemala is one of 26 countries classified “Permissive” for civilian gun ownership — 13% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.
Nearby countries
- El Salvador
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Belize
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Honduras
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Nicaragua
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Costa Rica
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Cayman Islands
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Other laws in Guatemala
- Death Penalty
- Abolished for ordinary crimes
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Every law in Guatemala → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.