Good article.
Table 9.2 - Overview of Prohibited and Restricted Firearms for Civilian Possession
Venezuela:
- Only the state may possess 'weapons of war', including: cannon, rifles, mortars, machine guns, sub-machine guns, carbines, pistols, and revolvers, be they automatic or semi-automatic. Civilians are only authorized to hold .22 rifles and shotguns (repeating and hunting).
- Penalty for Possessing Prohibited Firearm: 5-8 years for firearms; 6-10 years for 'weapons of war'
- Registration: details of the firearm must be recorded
Peaceful socialists without private ownership of 'weapons of war'. What could go wrong?
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/venezuela
I saw a video of one of the marches last night.
Apparently pro-Chavez as the banners suggested.
So the protests aren’t about bringing a philosophical change from socialism.
...
According to many observers and to Mr Capriles himself, the protests are made up of a middle-class majority, with middle-class concerns.
The above is a key point. One of the socialists' main demographics of support comes from the underclass (just like the US Democrat party), and the rulers do not want to crack down on crime committed by one of their big voting constituencies (just like the Democrats).