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The situation in Venezuela demonstrated the importance of an armed citizenry – its population was disarmed and thus unable to free itself from Maduro's grip.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 30, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/30/msnbc-venezuela-coverage-shows-why-u-s-founders-wanted-armed-citizenry/ MSNBC Venezuela Coverage Shows Why U.S. Founders Wanted Armed Citizenry]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref><ref>Byas, Steve (May 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/32167-msnbc-reporter-s-remarks-illustrate-need-for-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms MSNBC Reporter’s Remarks Illustrate Need for Right to Keep and Bear Arms]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> Maduro used violent means to keep control of Venezuela.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (July 9, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/32799-venezuelas-maduro-employing-death-squads-torture-to-retain-control Venezuela’s Maduro Employing Death Squads, Torture to Retain Control]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory in 2019, over 7,000 Venezuelans died in the country's prisons since 1999.<ref>Kew, Ben (July 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/07/26/ngo-7000-venezuelans-died-prison-under-socialist-regime/ NGO: Over 7,000 Venezuelans Have Died in Prison Under Socialist Regime]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>

The situation in Venezuela demonstrated the importance of an armed citizenry – its population was disarmed and thus unable to free itself from Maduro's grip.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 30, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/30/msnbc-venezuela-coverage-shows-why-u-s-founders-wanted-armed-citizenry/ MSNBC Venezuela Coverage Shows Why U.S. Founders Wanted Armed Citizenry]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref><ref>Byas, Steve (May 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/32167-msnbc-reporter-s-remarks-illustrate-need-for-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms MSNBC Reporter’s Remarks Illustrate Need for Right to Keep and Bear Arms]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> Maduro used violent means to keep control of Venezuela.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (July 9, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/32799-venezuelas-maduro-employing-death-squads-torture-to-retain-control Venezuela’s Maduro Employing Death Squads, Torture to Retain Control]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory in 2019, over 7,000 Venezuelans died in the country's prisons since 1999.<ref>Kew, Ben (July 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/07/26/ngo-7000-venezuelans-died-prison-under-socialist-regime/ NGO: Over 7,000 Venezuelans Have Died in Prison Under Socialist Regime]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>

Economists argued that Venezuela's economic collapse surpassed even those of the USSR and Zimbabwe, making it the worst economic collapse not due to warfare.<ref>Mikelionis, Lukas (May 18, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/venezuelas-socialist-regime-failure-is-the-worst-collapse-in-45-years-worse-than-end-of-soviet-union-economists-say Venezuela's socialist collapse is worse economic failure than Soviet Union, Zimbabwe, experts say]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 18, 2019.</ref> Even Venezuela's own central bank admitted the country experienced an economic meltdown under the Maduro regime.<ref>Hayward, John (June 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/06/03/venezuelan-central-bank-admits-economy-crashing/ Venezuelan Central Bank Admits Economy Is Crashing]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 4, 2019.</ref> The country faced severe blackouts.<ref>Taylor, Luke (July 24, 2019). [https://www.theepochtimes.com/venezuela-struggling-with-new-wave-of-nationwide-blackouts_3015047.html Venezuela Struggling With New Wave of Nationwide Blackouts]. ''The Epoch Times''. Retrieved July 24, 2019.</ref> People resorted to using cigarettes as currency.<ref>Smith, Scott (October 24, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/a79322863d6643038ef82bff7951e139 Venezuelans buy gas with cigarettes to battle inflation]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved October 25, 2019.</ref>

Economists argued that Venezuela's economic collapse surpassed even those of the USSR and Zimbabwe, making it the worst economic collapse not due to warfare.<ref>Mikelionis, Lukas (May 18, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/world/venezuelas-socialist-regime-failure-is-the-worst-collapse-in-45-years-worse-than-end-of-soviet-union-economists-say Venezuela's socialist collapse is worse economic failure than Soviet Union, Zimbabwe, experts say]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 18, 2019.</ref> Even Venezuela's own central bank admitted the country experienced an economic meltdown under the Maduro regime.<ref>Hayward, John (June 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/06/03/venezuelan-central-bank-admits-economy-crashing/ Venezuelan Central Bank Admits Economy Is Crashing]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 4, 2019.</ref> The country faced severe blackouts.<ref>Taylor, Luke (July 24, 2019). [https://www.theepochtimes.com/venezuela-struggling-with-new-wave-of-nationwide-blackouts_3015047.html Venezuela Struggling With New Wave of Nationwide Blackouts]. ''The Epoch Times''. Retrieved July 24, 2019.</ref> People resorted to using cigarettes as currency.<ref>Smith, Scott (October 24, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/a79322863d6643038ef82bff7951e139 Venezuelans buy gas with cigarettes to battle inflation]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved October 25, 2019.</ref> Maduro was forced to resort to using the currency of his main enemy – the United States – to keep Venezuela's economy from completely dissolving.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-economy/maduro-says-thank-god-for-dollarization-in-venezuela-idUSKBN1XR0RV Maduro says 'thank God' for dollarization in Venezuela]. ''Reuters''. November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.</ref>

Venezuela's government sheltered Colombia's Marxist [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]].<ref>Forero, Juan (July 14, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuela-gives-colombian-rebels-free-rein-11563105600 Venezuela Gives Colombian Rebels Free Rein]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved July 14, 2019.<br>See also:

Venezuela's government sheltered Colombia's Marxist [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]].<ref>Forero, Juan (July 14, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuela-gives-colombian-rebels-free-rein-11563105600 Venezuela Gives Colombian Rebels Free Rein]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved July 14, 2019.<br>See also: