The effort to oust dictator Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela continues today after President Juan Guiado launched a new operation yesterday in hopes of a military defection. In response, Maduro's Cuban thugs ran people over in the streets with heavy armored vehicles and fired tear gas.
While watching the video of innocents being mowed down, MSNBC reporter Kerry Sanders admitted that because everyday Venezuelan citizens are not allowed to own firearms, they're defenseless against the government. The Washington Free Beacon pulled the clip.
"You have to understand, in Venezuela gun ownership is not something that's open to everybody. So if the military have the guns, they have the power and as long as Nicolás Maduro controls the military, he controls the country," Sanders said, watching in horror.
Venezuela banned and confiscated firearms for civilians in 2012 under the guise of crime reduction. From the BBC at the time, when former dictator Hugo Chavez was still in power:
Venezuela has brought a new gun law into effect which bans the commercial sale of firearms and ammunition.
Until now, anyone with a gun permit could buy arms from a private company.
Under the new law, only the army, police and certain groups like security companies will be able to buy arms from the state-owned weapons manufacturer and importer.
The ban is the latest attempt by the government to improve security and cut crime ahead of elections in October.
Hugo Chavez's government says the ultimate aim is to disarm all civilians.
According to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Maduro was set to leave the country for Cuba on Tuesday morning, but the Russian government convinced him to stay.
"We will hold accountable those who turn to violence or inflict violence upon the Venezuelan people. There will be a day for accountability for all those who engage in this," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says. https://t.co/xB4XMdrBZk pic.twitter.com/BrX6LcTyEC
— CNN (@CNN) April 30, 2019