How Hugo Chavez brought Afghanistan to South America (Violence rises 6 mths after gun ban)

National Post ^ | January 12, 2013 | David Frum

[PJ-Comix]

Thursday was inauguration day in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez — who has dominated Venezuelan politics one way or another for 14 years — was again sworn in as President. Only this time, the authoritarian populist could not take the oath in person. He departed for cancer surgery in Cuba on Dec. 10, 2012, and has not been seen in public since. This latest surgery is his fourth round of treatment in Cuba. Few expect Chavez to serve out this next six-year presidential term.

[PJ-Comix]

The police had long since given up patrolling the poor neighborhoods on the hills surrounding central Caracas. Now they had ceased patrolling the high-rent districts, too — that is, when they were not actively in cahoots with the criminals who committed “express kidnappings”: jumping out at a motorist as he punched the keypad to the locked garage beneath his apartment building, putting a gun to his head, and abducting him for two hours. The ransoms were typically relatively small, a few thousand dollars. The kidnappers made their money on volume.

Keep in mind this violence continues rising SIX MONTHS after private ownership of guns was BANNED in Venezuela:

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.

[mc5cents]

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.

Coming to a country near and dear to you soon.

[tet68]

He’s already dead, otherwise they would have shown him
being sworn in in Cuba.

Toast, In the past, Takeing a dirt nap, Bought the farm
etc.

[piasa]

Keep in mind this violence continues rising SIX MONTHS after private ownership of guns was BANNED in Venezuela

pinging again