Venezuela Cracks Down On Guns — Here’s Why We Pay Attention

By James England

The world is getting hairy out there, folks. No better of an example exists right now than Venezuela. This country used to reap in large benefits from its oil industry. With the crash in oil prices, the Venezuelan government has struggled to keep even basic food items on the shelves. It’s a rags-to-riches-to-rags story that serves as a dire warning of what happens when government oversteps its bounds.

Facing political unrest and a lack of basic services, the Venezuelan government has instituted forced conscription and has begun collecting up firearms from its populace. We can only surmise that collecting up these firearms is to prevent any outright revolt.

Here’s the problem: criminals won’t be affected.

via Reuters

Gangs often get weapons from the police, either by stealing them or buying them from corrupt officers, experts say.

In a country where guns are not purchased at a local firearms shop, regular citizens have to go through a very tedious process to legally own a firearm. Criminals don’t.

Ordinary citizens were banned from owning guns since 2012. So, theoretically, they’re not supposed to have them at all.

However, as we debate in the United States the merits of gun control, Venezuela offers a …Read the Rest

Source:: Concealed Nation