Videos emerging from Venezuela Tuesday show anti-Nicolás Maduro protesters being reportedly shot at and run over by military members while civilians are unable to use conventional weapons to defend themselves following a private gun ownership ban in 2012.

Videos circulating on social media show an unidentified helicopter reportedly shooting at protesters and armored military vehicles running over groups of citizens protesting the continuing reign of Maduro, who refuses to yield control of the country to Juan Guaidó, who multiple countries, including the United States, recognize as the legitimate president of the country.



#Venezuela 🇻🇪. pro-#Maduro forces were caught on live television trying to run over protesters at La Carlota airbase as they were pushing back the crowd. #30Abr #OperacionLibertad pic.twitter.com/SxmNUsz7m4 — Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) April 30, 2019



Guaidó declared that "the moment is now" for citizens and the military to turn on Maduro and remove him from power.

But at least some citizens say that would be easier if the government hadn't banned guns.

“Guns would have served as a vital pillar to remaining a free people, or at least able to put up a fight,” exiled English teacher Javier Vanegas told Fox News. “The government security forces, at the beginning of this debacle, knew they had no real opposition to their force. Once things were this bad, it was a clear declaration of war against an unarmed population.”

Citizens in Venezuela have been unable to own private firearms since the country enacted a ban in 2012 under previous leader Hugo Chávez. The law only allows the military, police, and specific groups, i.e. security groups, are allowed to purchase firearms from state-controlled manufacturers. Those in violation could face up to 10 years in prison if in possession of a "weapon of war."

The ban was originally meant to curtail the high murder rate in the country, which saw over 18,000 homicides in 2011. After a low surrender rate, the government invested heavily in seizing weapons from citizens instead.

National security adviser John Bolton said that "all options" were available to the U.S. to assist the transition of power, including military intervention. Bolton said that if the uprising were to fail, Venezuela would sink into a dictatorship.