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Venezuela — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Venezuela is 1,600,000 to 4,100,0001 2

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Venezuela is 10.73 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Venezuela ranked at No. 274

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Venezuela ranked at No. 593

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Estimated Number of Illicit Firearms

Unlawfully held guns cannot be counted, but in Venezuela there are estimated to be 1,100,000 to 2,700,0001 2

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Venezuela are reported to have 281,0001 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Venezuela are reported to have 76,0001 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Venezuela, annual homicides by any means total

2009: 13,9865
2008: 14,584
2007: 13,156
2006: 12,257
2005: 9,964
2004: 9,716
2003: 12,622
2002: 10,639
2001: 8,703
2000: 8,053
1999: 5,9746
1998: 4,550

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Venezuela, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2009: 48.935
2008: 51.86
2007: 48.00
2006: 45.00
2005: 37.28
2004: 37.00
2003: 49.00
2002: 42.00
2001: 35.00
2000: 33.00
1999: 25.216
1998: 19.61

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Number of Suicides (any method)

ChartIn Venezuela, annual suicides by any means total

2008: 6867
2007: 622
2006: 760
2005: 915
2004: 911
2003: 986
2002: 1,077
2001: 1,132
2000: 1,100
1994: 1,0898

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Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Venezuela, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2008: 2.447
2007: 2.25
2006: 2.80
2005: 3.42
2004: 3.47
2003: 3.82
2002: 4.25
2001: 4.55
2000: 4.55
1994: 4.248

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Number of Gun Suicides

In Venezuela, annual firearm suicides total

2000: 2838

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Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

In Venezuela, the annual rate of firearm suicide per 100,000 population is

2000: 1.108

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Number of Unintentional Gun Deaths

In Venezuela, annual unintentional shooting deaths total

2000: 1038

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Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 People

In Venezuela, the annual rate of unintentional shooting death per 100,000 population is

2000: 0.408

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Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

In Venezuela, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total

2000: 2,5818

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Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

In Venezuela, the annual rate of unknown-cause shooting deaths per 100,000 population is

2000: 10.048

ProductionGun Industry

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Small Arms Manufacture - World Ranking

In a classification of the world's small, medium and major firearm manufacturers, Venezuela is ranked 'small'9

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Import Control

In Venezuela, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 10

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Venezuela is reported to be US$6,170,79211 (2009)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Venezuela is reported to be US$36012

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Venezuela, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law10

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Venezuela is categorised as restrictive13

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Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

In Venezuela, civilians are not allowed to possess machine guns, sub-machine guns, carbines, pistols and revolvers, be they automatic or semi-automatic. Civilians are only authorized to hold .22 rifles and shotguns14

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Regulation of Automatic Assault Weapons

In Venezuela, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited14

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Regulation of Semiautomatic Assault Weapons

In Venezuela, private possession of semi-automatic assault weapons is prohibited14

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Regulation of Handguns

In Venezuela, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is prohibited14

Gun Owner Licensing

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Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Licence

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Venezuela are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, self-defence, hunting and sport15 16

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Venezuela is 18 years15

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Venezuela must pass background checks which consider mental and criminal15 records

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Gun Owner Licensing Period

In Venezuela gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify for their firearm licence every 3 years17

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Venezuela, the law requires18 14 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Venezuela, State agencies are required19 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - Private

Firearm regulations in Venezuela include17 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Venezuela, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law19

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Firearm Tracing

In Venezuela, state authorities carry out20 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

Carrying Guns

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Carrying Guns Openly in Public

In Venezuela, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit17

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Carrying Hidden Handguns in Public

In Venezuela, carrying a concealed firearm in a public place is prohibited17

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In Venezuela, the maximum penalty for illicit possession of firearms is 8 years17

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

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Small Arms Destroyed

In Venezuela, the total number of firearms destroyed following recent amnesty, collection and seizure programmes is reported to be 200,000 (2003-11)21

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Destruction and Disposal Policy

In Venezuela, it is not state policy22 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

Organization of American States

On 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Venezuela adopted the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), a legally binding multilateral treaty of which the OAS is depository. The CIFTA Convention has since been signed and ratified23 24 by Venezuela

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Venezuela abstained from endorsing25 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed26 by Venezuela

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Venezuela committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects27

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Venezuela has submitted one or more national reports28 29 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Venezuela, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated30 29

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Venezuela, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated30 29

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated29 by Venezuela to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Venezuela has not declared4 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Venezuela has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194531

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list32 Venezuela as a Participating State
Last Updated on 18 March 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Estimated Total Small Arms, Firearms, and Surpluses in Venezuela, Rounded.’ Surplus Arms in South America: A Survey.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,1 August. (Q5318)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Country Summaries – Venezuela.’ Surplus Arms in South America: A Survey.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,1 August. (Q5319)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

5.

OAS Observatory on Citizen Security.2011.‘Intentional Homicide.’ Report on Citizen Security in the Americas 2011.Washington, DC:Organisation of American States,1 January. (Q5678)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2004.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1998-2000).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,19 March. (Q91)Full Citation

7.

OAS Observatory on Citizen Security.2011.‘Suicide.’ Report on Citizen Security in the Americas 2011.Washington, DC:Organisation of American States,1 January. (Q5680)Full Citation

8.

Jackson, Thomas.2005.‘Global Gun Deaths.’ NISAT Firearm Mortality Database 2005.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 January. (Q12)Full Citation

9.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘Ranking of World's Small Arms Producers (By Sales).’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q103)Full Citation

10.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

11.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

12.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

13.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A Staff Report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

14.

Parker, Sarah.2011.‘Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5378)Full Citation

15.

Parker, Sarah.2011.‘Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5430)Full Citation

16.

Parker, Sarah.2011.‘Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5396)Full Citation

17.

Parker, Sarah.2011.‘Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5449)Full Citation

18.

Venezuela.2004.‘Report on the Programme of Action (Informe sobre el Programa de Acción).’ National Report of Venezuela on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations,28 April. (Q4639)Full Citation

19.

Venezuela.2006.‘Marking, Registration and Tracing (Marcado, Mantenimiento de Registros y Localización).’ National Report of Venezuela on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations,23 March. (Q4640)Full Citation

20.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q323)Full Citation

21.

Juan Reardon. 2011. ‘Venezuelans Begin Public Debate On Law Of Firearms Control And Disarmament.’ Venezuela Analysis. 12 August. (N259) Full Citation

22.

Godnick, William and Helena Vasquez.2003.‘Venezuela.’ Small Arms Control in Latin America: Monitoring the Implementation of Small Arms Control Projects (MISAC).London:International Alert, Security and Peacebuilding Programme,1 March. (Q5561)Full Citation

23.

OAS / UNODA.1997.‘Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials / CIFTA.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Organization of American States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 November. (Q3244)Full Citation

24.

OAS.1997.‘Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA): Signatures and Ratifications.’ Organization of American States, Department of International Law.Washington DC:Organization of American States,14 November. (Q3262)Full Citation

25.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

26.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

27.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

28.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

29.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

30.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

31.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

32.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation