Several years ago,...
That hasn't helped to keep people in the region safe though, as they've continued to struggle with a declining economy and crippling inflation.
It's reported that Venezuela has seen a steadily rising homicide rate over the last 20 years, which prompted the move to try and restrict gun ownership in the first place.
Despite the restrictions on gun ownership that were implemented several years ago however, Venezuela is still seeing a homicide rate of 89 per 100,000 and that makes it higher than the global average—about 15x higher.
It's suggested that many criminals are murdering for smartphones, as millions in the region continue to struggle to meet their daily needs.
For one 46 year old man from Caracas, who lives with bars on his doors and windows, he says that people are being robbed in the market, the street, on the beach, even at the hospital. It's fueled the narrative with some that the government doesn't care about them because it has failed to protect them and in many ways only made the situation much worse for them.
For the 2nd year in a row, Venezuela has been listed as the least safe country in the world to visit.
Pics:
pixabay