The Catalan government has formally proposed a reform to toughen prison sentences for illegal weapons possession, aiming to align Spain’s penalties with broader European standards and address rising public safety concerns.

President Salvador Illa announced the parliamentary initiative during the general policy debate this week, urging support for a bill his party will table shortly. The proposal seeks to amend Articles 563, 564, and 565 of the Spanish Penal Code, arguing that current penalties no longer match the risks posed by illicit firearms.

“The penalties have become outdated with respect to the risk posed by the illicit possession of weapons,”

President Illa stated, highlighting that existing sanctions have remained largely unchanged for three decades.

Proposed Increases in Prison Terms

  • Prohibited or modified weapons: Prison term rises from 1–3 years to 2–4 years under Article 563.
  • Unlicensed handguns: Sentence increases from 1–2 years to 18 months–3 years.
  • Unlicensed long guns: Penalty rises from 6 months–1 year to 6–18 months.
  • Aggravated cases: For firearms with altered or erased serial numbers, illegally imported weapons, or modified characteristics, penalties would be 3–4 years for handguns and 18 months–3 years for long guns.

Stricter Rules on Weapon Display

The reform would also amend Article 565 to remove the possibility of reducing sentences by one degree if the illegal possession involved public display of the weapon or presence before vulnerable individuals. In such cases, the penalty would be imposed in the upper half of the range when the display occurred in front of minors, people with disabilities, or other particularly vulnerable persons.

The proposal draws on the European Commission’s directive COM(2026) 102 final of 26 February 2026, which recommends a minimum maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment for intentional possession of unauthorised firearms. While not yet binding, the directive serves as a key reference point for harmonising national laws.

The reform will be submitted to the Spanish Congress by the PSC-Units parliamentary group, with the Catalan government hoping for approval before the end of the current legislative term. Discussions with the Spanish government in Moncloa have progressed positively, according to executive sources.

Sources: Govern de Catalunya, data.consilium.europa.eu, Ara, Directorate-General.