Poll finds Venezuela shortages to exceed 80 percent., Here it is Bernie supporters right in front of your face democratic socialism at work. Note how Chavez disarmed his people in 2012. He knew what was coming.

Poll finds Venezuela shortages to exceed 80 percent

Caracas (AFP) - More than 80 percent of basic consumer products including food and medicine are now in short supply in Venezuela, a poll says.

Stores are facing greater shortages than households, president of pollster Datanalisis Luis Vicente Leon said Friday.

But the company's latest study, with data from April, saw a jump in that index as the oil-rich country grapples with political and economic crisis.

"The deterioration has been exponential over the last two months," Leon said. "We are seeing indices worsen in a really dramatic way."

Datanalisis expects inflation of 450 percent, and predicts purchasing power will drop by at least 40 points compared to 2015.

The latest official inflation figures from December 2015 reported a 180.9 percent increase in prices.

The combination of shortages and inflation plaguing Venezuelans has forced at least two-thirds of the population to rely on the black market for basic goods.

Around 86 percent of Venezuelans polled pinned blame on President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government.

Maduro claims that a conspiracy of entrepreneurs are waging "economic war" on his country, and also says the collapse of prices of oil -- a commodity that accounts for 96 percent of Venezuela's hard currency revenue -- has provoked the crisis.

According to Datanalisis, 71.8 percent of Venezuelans think Maduro's "economic war" theory as "little or no credibility."

The study surveyed 800 people in eight major Venezuelan cities of varying socioeconomic status. The margin of error was 3.46 percent.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." B. Franklin.

Venezuela bans private gun ownership

• 1 June 2012
 
• From the section Latin America & Caribbean

Image captionThe government implemented a gun amnesty ahead of the introduction of the new law

Venezuela has brought a new gun law into effect which bans the commercial sale of firearms and ammunition. 

Until now, anyone with a gun permit could buy arms from a private company.

Under the new law, only the army, police and certain groups like security companies will be able to buy arms from the state-owned weapons manufacturer and importer.

The ban is the latest attempt by the government to improve security and cut crime ahead of elections in October

Venezuela saw more than 18,000 murders last year and the capital, Caracas, is thought to be one of the most dangerous cities in Latin America. 

'Must do more'

The government has been running a gun amnesty in the run-up to the introduction of the new law to try to encourage people to give up their illegal arms without fear of consequences.

Analysis

By Sarah GraingerBBC News, Caracas

Besides the health of President Chavez, security is the main concern for voters ahead of presidential elections in October. 

While voters don't seem to hold Mr Chavez responsible for the insecurity, the situation has worsened throughout his 13 years in office. 

The government's most recent statistics put the murder rate at around 48 per 100,000, although some non-governmental organisations estimate it's much higher - 60 per 100,000 in 2011, one of the highest rates in the world.

Critics say the new gun laws and other recently announced measures, like a victim's compensation fund, are just the latest in a long line of failed attempts to bolster security. 

One member of the public in Caracas told the BBC: "They're killing people every day. This law is important but they need to do more, they're not doing enough now." 

Hugo Chavez's government says the ultimate aim is to disarm all civilians, but his opponents say the police and government may not have the capacity or the will to enforce the new law. 

Criminal violence is set to be a major issue in presidential elections later in the year.

Campaign group The Venezuela Violence Observatory said last year that violence has risen steadily since Mr Chavez took office in 1999.

Several Latin American countries have murder rates far higher than the global average of 6.9 murders per 100,000 people.

According to a  recent United Nations report , South America, Central America and the Caribbean have the highest rates of murder by firearms in the world. 

It found that over 70% of all homicides in South America are as a results of guns - in Western Europe, the figure was closer to 25%.