Maduro handed out guns to everyone.....leaders who dont have the support of their people dont do that.
And you think I am the one that fell for propaganda? Hint: Falling for foreign propaganda is no way virtuous and should not be used to bolster your attempt at virtue signaling. Oppose the action, but do not simply believe BS because you dislike the current administration's actions in this matter.
There was strict gun control in Venezuela.
Venezuela implemented one of the strictest civilian gun control regimes in the world starting in
2012 under then-President Hugo Chávez (with Maduro as a key figure in the government). The
Control of Arms, Munitions and Disarmament Law banned commercial sales of firearms and ammunition to private citizens, effectively aiming to "disarm all citizens." Only the military, police, and certain government-approved security groups could legally purchase guns from state-controlled sources. Civilian gun ownership became heavily restricted, with new licenses halted and illegal possession punishable by up to 20 years in prison. This policy continued and strengthened under Maduro after he became president in 2013.
Maduro armed specific pro-government loyalists, not the general public. These include:
Colectivos: Armed paramilitary-style civilian groups loyal to the regime, often used to suppress protests and maintain control in neighborhoods.
Bolivarian Militia: A parallel civilian force (claiming millions of members) trained and sometimes equipped by the government.
Reports from various periods (e.g., 2017, 2025) describe distributions of rifles or weapons to public employees, state workers, militias, and colectivos, often framed as defense against alleged foreign invasions or coups. This was selective, it was targeted at supporters to bolster regime security and never a broad handout to all Venezuelans.
The policy disarmed ordinary citizens while selectively arming regime allies, leaving the general population vulnerable (as noted by critics and sources like Fox News and NRA publications). Crime rates, including homicides, rose significantly after the 2012 ban, contrary to its stated goal of reducing violence.
Maduro's actions were the opposite for most Venezuelans: stricter disarmament of civilians combined with arming of loyalist groups. There was no widespread distribution of guns to "everyone."