Venezuela’s Gun Confiscation Should be a Wake-up Call to Pro-gun Americans

Art McGrath is a Marine veteran, and journalist and author based in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. He is a Conservative Review contributor. This article is republished with permission from Conservative Review:

Venezuela’s gun confiscation should be a wake-up call to pro-gun Americans
Venezuela’s gun confiscation should be a wake-up call to pro-gun Americans
Conservative Review
Conservative Review

Venezuela-(Ammoland.com)- A recent report out of crime-ridden Venezuela is a reminder to gun owners of the importance of remaining watchful and putting pro-gun politicians in office.

Over 2,000 shotguns and pistols were destroyed in a city square in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas as part of a new gun control push.

The event marked “the renewal of efforts to disarm Venezuelans, through a combination of seizures and a voluntary program to swap guns for electrical goods.”

The government went as far as using laser technology to register ammunition, since much of the gun violence in Venezuela is perpetrated using government weapons that were either stolen from police departments and military depots, or sold to gangs by corrupt government officials. But stripping Venezuelan citizens of their ability to protect themselves will do nothing to address the violence.

This is, of course, the government pretending it is doing something about crime, as if it is ordinary citizens who are committing crimes in the streets. Criminals did not turn their guns in for destruction, nor were they affected by a gun ban.

The government under socialist president/dictator Hugo Chavez entirely banned the civilian ownership of firearms and ammunition in 2012, after a period of amnesty during which people could turn in weapons. Naturally, crime continued to increase. As usual, however, the purpose of a gun ban was not about preventing crime but consolidating power. Chavez was just more blatant about it.

Even though Chavez’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela no longer has exclusive power, his plans to disarm the people of Venezuela continue to live on.

Americans should take note of this as the November elections approach. Hillary Clinton has been an adamant opponent of liberty and gun rights for decades. We can expect her presidency to be the active culmination of that hatred of our traditions if she is elected.

“There can be little question Trump would be a more reliable friend to gun rights than Clinton, but even the most reliable politician should not be taken for granted.”

Democrats are fond of saying that gun owners’ fear of President Obama and a potential President Clinton are exaggerated; that Democrats haven’t taken come for anyone’s guns. While that’s true for the most part, it’s not due to a lack of desire on the part of liberal politicians. Rather, Democrats have failed in their efforts largely because of a lack of political support. Attempts to put through legislation are quickly ended by the Republican majority and the few pro-gun Democrats that remain. Politicians know that voters will scrutinize every move they make and will remember at the polls.

Donald Trump speaks in favor of the Second Amendment and was endorsed by the National Rifle Association, but in the past he was in favor of an assault weapons ban, waiting periods and depriving people on the No-Fly list of due process. As much as he may claim to support gun rights today, it is hard to gauge how firm a supporter of liberty he would be if he is elected. There can be little question Trump would be a more reliable friend to gun rights than Clinton, but even the most reliable politician should not be taken for granted.

Both candidates will have to be watched closely if they are elected. Even more importantly, voters will have to choose wisely among their senatorial and congressional candidates in the voting booth this November and hold them accountable after voting has concluded. As Jefferson is reputed to have said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

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truckeral

” From my cold, dead hands “

Rick

They’ll take away your guns any which way you like.

Wild Bill

@Rick, I am planning to take their guns, ammunition, vehicles, optics, CEOI and comms, and all other kinds and types of logistics. They are big and slow. We are small, secret and mobile. As we will get stronger, they will get weaker. You really don’t know how any of this works, do you.

Rick

Well, my father was an ex-Navy man, and I suspect that he did acquire one Army rifle by simply ‘tossing it over the fence’. In fact, he trained all of us well in acquiring firearms that are not traceable. In that regard, that’s one step ahead of the game.

MOLAN LABE

Sir, I’m sure you are aware that this is not a secure site. As such any comment you make can be accessed by anyone at any time. Declaring that you have untraceable weapons in your possession on such a public forum is not the best way to protect them if there were a true SHTF situation. It makes sense for someone to hold this type information a little closer to their vest. In fact with the likelihood of this type of situation as it is, wisdom dictates that the safety of your family and yourself would be better served by… Read more »

Rick

I for one do not have any firearms at my home that’s registered (much less bearing any serial numbers).

Wild Bill

@Rick, please don’t tell me that you filed or ground the serial numbers off of your firearms. The lab tech can “raise” the numbers that have been ground or filed off of a firearm by adding a little acid. Filing or grinding the serial numbers off your firearms is a technique that does not work, and only makes your gun ugly and unsellable.

Rick

No, I simply acquired them without any serial numbers whatsoever. That’s actually the right way in obtaining any sort of firearms.

Eric_CA

The state national guard is under the authority of the state governor. What happened after Hurricane Katrina is covered in detail in the book titled “Decision Points.” Spoiler alert: I wasn’t Bush’s fault.

sgmldr

@ Rick I am a retired Sergeant Major with 26 years service, 18 with the NG and during that 18 years served in both Title 10 and Title 32 status with the Guard. Title 32 is the normal status for the Guard under the authority of the Governor. They are called to duty for state emergencies, such as Katrina, wild fires, floods, search and rescue, etc. All funding is from the state coffers. Only upon declaration of national emergency, i.e. national disaster, war, etc, are they mobilized under the President and Title 10 status. The funding is then provided from… Read more »

Rick

It’s clear that the Lousiana Governor Kathleen Blanco activated the Guard following the Katrina tragedy, and that Title 32 likely applied in that case.

Wild Bill

@Norseman and sgmldr, Thank you both, gentlemen, for your service. Welcome to the site, I look forward to reading more of your on time and on target comments.

sgmldr

Thanks, Bill! I may not comment often unless I can state an unequivocal fact or personal knowledge. I refuse to be led around by “philosophers”, imaginaries, or the perverted media.

Thank you for your service as well. We served so they can BITCH…..

Norseman

@Rick

Title 10 and Title 32, look it up and get educated. You sir clearly never served.

Rick

No, I never served, but came close to being inducted. At any rate, obviously Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco should have shared the blame for the unwarranted gun and ammo confiscations.

Silence Dogood

It has never been about “crime.” And, will never actually be about “crime.” The NRA, and our side, should stop talking about “crime.” The “crime” issue was fabricated by Gun Haters and has always been a false flag operation. The lying Maggot Media perpetuates the “crime” myth. Gun Control has always been about “control” of Citizens and nothing else. All you need to remember, is Citizens with guns can not be herded onto cattle cars.

Rick

As you’re well aware, the cronies in Washington D.C. actually don’t give a hoot about crime as they’re merely using that as a pretense to disarm the public. In fact, it’s no longer a matter of if they’re going to do it, but when.

Infidel7.62

“If you are thinking it’s time to bury your guns, it’s actually time to start using your guns.” – author unknown

Rick

When the goons come for your guns, they will likely shoot you dead before you ever get off the first round.

Clark Kent

Speak for yourself, Rick.

Rick

When you have a half dozen M4 carbines pointed at you by trained killers, all that you’re going to do is simply say: ‘Yes Sir’. You give those type of people any bit of trouble, and they’re just as liable to shoot you dead where you stand.

Wild Bill

@Rick, Maybe, but to a large extent, who shoots whom depends upon how one prepares in advance. I know the terrain of and around my little ranch pretty well. The LP/OPs are in. The choke points, the best ambush sites, abates sites, escape routes, and rally points are all pre-plotted. We all are not waiting for some one to come to our doors. Like my old drill sergeant used to say, “Ambushs are killing, and killing is fun.”

Rick

Regardless of which of the two stooges occupies the White House in January, mass gun confiscations and across the board gun/ammo bans will likely follow.

F Riehl, Editor in Chief

So what you are saying is Trump will want all his sons ar15’s, handguns and high powered hunting rifles confiscated. I don’t think so…

Rick

You know, I wouldn’t trust either of those two clowns in respecting gun rights any further than I could throw them. In fact, in lieu of the unconstitutional Patriot Act and the National Defense Act of 2012, all that it’s going to take is some lame pretense to disarm the people, and you can bet that none of the two would hesitate to do so. Take a look at the sorry state of affairs happening in California, New York, New Jersey, Chicago and elsewhere. That’s only a sample of what to expect come January.

TEX

@Rick,you ain’t the brightest light in the house !

Rick

Better stock up on whatever arms, magazines and ammunition that you can get your hands on now as I can guarantee that you won’t have such an opportunity after election day. Preferrably, purchase firearms through private sale. Ideally, purchase some AR-15 80% lower receivers, and order the buffer tubes, trigger assemblies and upper receivers separately.

Rick

One only has to look no further than what transpired during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Batallions of National Guardsmen conducted house to house searches in New Orleans, and seized all firearms and ammunition. I might add that this travesty occurred during the Bush administration.

Silence Dogood

Clearly “Rick” is a “plant” merely making provocative and false statements; stop responding to him. Based solely on the Second Amendment “issue” Trump has openly declares he supports the Second Amendment and Pillory has affirmed her long held hatred of all things guns. Even the official 2016 Democratic Party Platform is anti-Second Amendment; under the guise of “Preventing Gun Violence.” If, you are pro-gun then vote for Trump. If, you are a gun-hater then vote for Pillory or any of the “other” candidates; either way it’s a vote against Trump and against the Pro-Gun movement. Stop replying to Rick, he’s… Read more »

Rick

Provocative and false statements? Excuse me, but I was merely wondering why President Bush didn’t intercede when the New Orleans authorities started confiscating the firearms after the Katrina disaster. At the time, I wasn’t nearly as familiar with military protocol as many on this site were in regards to the deployment of the National Guard. Thanks to the especially informative responses from the military people here, I’m now quite satisfied that Title 32 alone was in force at that time. Now, I’m neither a ‘plant’ nor a Democrat as I would have to go completely beserk to align with a… Read more »

SuperG

Hillary continues to blow Bloomberg, so we know she’ll start a revolution by enacting extreme gun control, and all the criminals on the street will rejoice.
Donald is a CEO, so he’ll appoint a panel to study it and take their recommendations. It will depend on who is on that panel, as to if they make sane recommendations or not. It would be wonderful if he saw the real problem, the lack of in-house treatment of the mentally ill, but I doubt that he will.

Rick

If the racketeerin’ wicked witch gets in, she’ll make the Obama tyranny seem like child’s play. Why, there’ll be more wails and howls than the Passover.

TEX

I hate it when people say it should be a ‘wake up call’ to Pro-Gun Americans ! I’ve seen what the liberal/socialists agenda is for fuck*ing years ! What the hell do you suggest we do at this point other than vote and hope they don’t turn RINO ? Any god*damn suggestions ? We’re awake !

Rick

Either acquire firearms through private sale, or build them up from 80% lower receivers.

Janek

Ahh! Caramba!

Rick

Usted tiene razon.