Venezuela took citizens' guns by force—now the people are regretful

[Revmitchell]

Six years ago, the Venezuelan National Assembly, led by former President Hugo Chavez, enacted a law to disarm all citizens. Thousands of guns were seized by force, and now many citizens look back and regret that they gave up their ability to fight an oppressive regime, according to Fox News.

For 26 years, this ban kept billions in the black market
The "Control of Arms, Munitions and Disarmament Law" took effect in 2013 with little opposition, banning the commercial sale of guns to all except government entities, and resulting in more than 12,500 guns being seized by authorities.

"Venezuelans didn't care enough about it," said Javier Vanegas, a teacher who was exiled from Venezuela to Ecuador, according to Fox News. "The idea of having the means to protect your home was seen as only needed out in the fields. People never would have believed they needed to defend themselves against the government. Venezuelans evolved to always hope that our government would be non-tyrannical, non-violator of human rights, and would always have a good enough control of criminality."

Nearly 200 pro-democracy protesters have been shot and killed by government forces under the country's socialist dictatorship since April 2017—relegated to facing armed troops with stones. David Kopel, a policy analyst for the Independence Institute, said the crumbling nation is a good example of the dangers a disarmed citizenry faces.

Venezuela took citizens' guns by force—now the people are regretful and helpless against oppression

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Thankfully, the majority of our founders did not naïvely think our constitutional republic could stand without stated rights. But even these would disappear without the armed threat they protect. It is no wonder our constitutional rights are attacked so aggressively by the left.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

From the article:

“Venezuelans evolved to always hope that our government would be non-tyrannical, non-violator of human rights, and would always have a good enough control of criminality, [said Javier Vanegas].”​

and

"Venezuela shows the deadly peril when citizens are deprived of the means of resisting the depredations of a criminal government," Kopel told Fox News.​

 

[church mouse guy]

It is very difficult to own a gun anywhere in Latin America.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

It is very difficult to own a gun anywhere in Latin America.

Sounds about right. Evidently they only confiscated about 12,500 weapons in the first place.

 

[just-want-peace]

From the article:

“Venezuelans evolved to always hope that our government would be non-tyrannical, non-violator of human rights, and would always have a good enough control of criminality, [said Javier Vanegas].”​

and

"Venezuela shows the deadly peril when citizens are deprived of the means of resisting the depredations of a criminal government," Kopel told Fox News.​

To any logical observer, this SHOULD speak volumes as to why the left wants to outlaw PRIVATE OWNERSHIP of guns. The bleeding hearts apparently expect ANY dim leader to be their "benevolent dictator" and life ever after will be nothing but wine & roses; with a few chocolate kisses thrown in.
The Venezuelan gov't - as well as many others - has shown the LOGICAL outcome of such utopianism. However the "believers" will never understand until the local constabulary comes knocking on their door because of some elite's offense at some innocuous statement - possibly even unknown by the offender!!

MARANATHA

 

[JonC]

When you live in a paradise such as Venezuela you don't need guns. You'll see. The Democrats will take us there one day and you all will eat your words!

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

When you live in a paradise such as Venezuela you don't need guns. You'll see. The Democrats will take us there one day and you all will eat your words!

Hey, maybe all the liberals are destined for paradise after all! What's that warning? Oh, yeah. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.

But if they succeed, it may eventually lead to an Idi Amin type paradise, where you don't want to know what you'll be eating, that is, force-fed.

 

[church mouse guy]

When you live in a paradise such as Venezuela you don't need guns. You'll see. The Democrats will take us there one day and you all will eat your words!

They'll have to eat their words because socialism uses famine as a political stragety

Due to the high cost of ammo, no warning shot will be fired.

 

[church mouse guy]

Hey, maybe all the liberals are destined for paradise after all! What's that warning? Oh, yeah. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.

But if they succeed, it may eventually lead to an Idi Amin type paradise, where you don't want to know what you'll be eating, that is, force-fed.

They know that they are rich and will retain their high station so they do not see much beyond the ends of their noses. They have aligned with Islam to install socialism and sharia. When those two get rid of us, then Islam wii easily get rid of them. Islam is depraved but stays in shape to destroy everyone else. Liberals are depraved but they are not good at war.

 

[777]

Sounds about right. Evidently they only confiscated about 12,500 weapons in the first place.

Yes, and did you read that there was very little compliance in the first place?

That is a sad number of guns. That country had a decent constitution before Chavez ran the place into the ground with socialism.

Tyrannical governments have always tried to disarm the populace - what led the Revolutionary War from a cold war to a hot war:

Coming of the American Revolution: Lexington and Concord

molon labe, because what the great Mexican dude said -“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees” (Emiliano Zapata).

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Yes, and did you read that there was very little compliance in the first place?

That is a sad number of guns. That country had a decent constitution before Chavez ran the place into the ground with socialism.

Tyrannical governments have always tried to disarm the populace - what led the Revolutionary War from a cold war to a hot war:

Coming of the American Revolution: Lexington and Concord

molon labe, because what the great Mexican dude said -“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees” (Emiliano Zapata).

Yes, I did notice that slow compliance, at least by the holders, but am not really aware of all that preceded the fall of that country.

It seems to me that whether sensible freedom can be had for any populace is determined by the culture. Cultural doctrine (and mythology) matters. Ours is being eroded, debased.

I have seen firsthand how a new dictatorship can quickly take hold, but that culture was actually prepared for it over centuries--they were never really free. Clearly, American democracy did not develop in a vacuum.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

To any logical observer, this SHOULD speak volumes as to why the left wants to outlaw PRIVATE OWNERSHIP of guns. The bleeding hearts apparently expect ANY dim leader to be their "benevolent dictator" and life ever after will be nothing but wine & roses; with a few chocolate kisses thrown in.
The Venezuelan gov't - as well as many others - has shown the LOGICAL outcome of such utopianism. However the "believers" will never understand until the local constabulary comes knocking on their door because of some elite's offense at some innocuous statement - possibly even unknown by the offender!!

MARANATHA

One would think that their hateful, violent, virulent, activists, some of whom are their representatives, might be some indication to them that their ideology is not nearly as benevolent as they imagine. But no.

They feel so justified in their views that they consider "by any means necessary" a mere temporary expression that could only ever be directed at those with whom they disagree. They are clueless that there could be (and are) among them those that disagree with each other, and will use any newfound power for the purpose of eliminating yet more "disagreeables."

Too bad these internal disagreements don't break out in earnest first and seriously thin the ranks.

 

[church mouse guy]

Yes, I did notice that slow compliance, at least by the holders, but am not really aware of all that preceded the fall of that country.

It seems to me that whether sensible freedom can be had for any populace is determined by the culture. Cultural doctrine (and mythology) matters. Ours is being eroded, debased.

I have seen firsthand how a new dictatorship can quickly take hold, but that culture was actually prepared for it over centuries--they were never really free. Clearly, American democracy did not develop in a vacuum.

Venezuela is under the control of Raul Castro, who has a strong military to offset the Venezuelan military that is now busted up with many officers and soldiers in prisons. The American people have for the last sixty years underestimated the power of the Castros. The Cuban military serves the Russian military and they recently fought for Russia in Syria. The man tanks in the Russian army. Even more, the Cubans were trained by the KGB in population control. Cubans helped the North Vietnamese torture American prisoners in Hanoi and are considered responsible for some missing and dead Americans.

 

[asterisktom]

Odd that so many here think that this gun control move in the US is only from liberals and the Left. Trump - for some reason still the darling of many Christians - is a prime mover for these Red Flag gun laws.