Venezuela was once the jewel of South America. It’s an oil-rich nation with a long growing season and abundant natural resources. Plus, it’s a beautiful place that would make a wonderful tourist destination…if it wasn’t a socialist hellhole where people are eating zoo animals to survive.

Now, an op-ed is noting that gun control is a tool of the tyrannical Maduro government in the country.

Is Venezuela paying the price for adopting gun control?

The shocking nature of Venezuela’s economic collapse has been covered ad nauseam. However, one aspect of the Venezuelan crisis that does not receive much coverage is the country’s gun control regime.

Fox News recently published an excellent article highlighting Venezuelan citizens’ regret over the gun control policies the Venezuelan government has implemented since 2012. Naturally, this regret is warranted. The Venezuelan government is among the most tyrannical in the world, with a proven track record of violating basic civil liberties such as free speech, debasing its national currency, confiscating private property, and creating economic controls that destroy the country’s productivity.

Elections have proven to be useless, as they’ve been mired with corruption and charges of government tampering. For many, taking up arms is the only option left for the country to shake off its tyrannical government. However, the Venezuelan government has done well to prevent an uprising by passing draconian gun control which will be detailed below.

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Venezuelans are now defenseless against a government that runs roughshod over their civil liberties, while also destroying their economic livelihood. As if it weren’t enough, everyday Venezuelans must put up with rampant crime and the constant threat of colectivos, Venezuela’s infamous pro-government paramilitary units.

Although gun control in and of itself does not automatically lead to tyranny, historical events remind us that well-intentioned interventions from previous governments can be used by the next round of political operatives for nefarious purposes. Firearms bans, confiscation, and registration give the state a virtual monopoly on violence, thus turning its citizens into defenseless subjects. When the rubber meets the road, a disarmed populace has no chance against a well-armed Leviathan.

It’s an interesting piece, one well worth reading.

Of course, there aren’t many arguments there that Second Amendment advocates won’t recognize. That’s because regardless of the nation, the reason to protect our right to keep and bear arms remains the same. It is the only way to preserve our liberties.

Meanwhile, in France, what started as a flippant comment about rural folks needing to walk more is turning ugly. Protestors have rioted ever since President Macron made his announcement of a new carbon tax and French police have been unable to quell the unrest. Keep in mind that while these are rioters, not mere demonstrators, they’re still outraged over a government that they feel is out of touch with them.

How is Macron reacting? Not particularly well.

Last week, when we looked at the French government’s plans to “crack down” on the yellow vest protesters and rioters, it sounded like they were just passing new laws to allow for jail time for unauthorized marches. While a bit on the heavy-handed side, it still sounded like typical law enforcement in a more socialist-style government. But now the concept of a “crackdown” has definitely been taken to the next level. The riot control officers are breaking out the semiautomatic rifles and issuing live ammunition to deal with the crowds.

So the government is prepared to shoot these protestors, people who are sick of a government screaming at them about how they need to suck it up. When we have riots in this country, the police use any number of tactics to quell the unrest. That might be because there’s always a chance of shooting at protestors will lead to people shooting back. That’s something the French police don’t have to worry about as guns are essentially banned in France.

No, gun control doesn’t invariably lead to tyranny, immediately, anyway. But it’s always a precursor to it. Once the government disarms the citizenry, there’s nothing to stop it from happening.