Legal Fragmentation and Compliance Gaps in Weapons and Ammunition Management: The Case for Normative Reform in Guatemala

Resumen

Effective weapons and ammunition management (WAM) is a central component of contemporary security governance, arms control, and violence prevention. International standards such as the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and the Modular Small-arms-control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) provide a comprehensive framework for the safe, secure, and accountable management of weapons and ammunition throughout their life cycle. However, effective implementation of these standards depends not only on technical capacity but also on the existence of coherent and adequate national legal frameworks. This article examines the case of Guatemala, arguing that persistent deficiencies in WAM are primarily rooted in normative fragmentation, regulatory gaps, and weak legal coordination among responsible institutions. Drawing on a national baseline assessment conducted through interinstitutional technical working groups, the article analyzes the extent to which Guatemala’s current legal and institutional framework aligns with international WAM standards. It identifies key areas where legal reform is necessary to enable effective compliance, including marking and record-keeping, destruction procedures, judicial oversight, and regulation of private security companies. The article concludes that targeted legislative and regulatory reforms are essential to transform technical standards into enforceable and sustainable national practice.