Current Event – Political influence of juvenile growth & development

Introduction

Children in Venezuela have been seen with assault weapons in a photograph. The report released on 03 February 2012 states that the photograph was taken at an event conducted by a community political organization called La Piedrita(Ramsey, 1).

Body

The La Piedrita group calls itself pro-Chavez, but President Hugo Chavez has condemned the group. The event was conducted to celebrate the end of Marcos Perez Jimenez’s dictatorship which ended in 1958.

In this photograph, children were seen holding M-16 assault rifles and have covered half their faces by wearing bandanas. The photograph also showed Robert Serra (Venezuelan Congressman) was present in the event. This showed that the event got official support. However, Robert Serra says, his photograph was taken at some other event with the children, and not when they were holding weapons (Ramsey, 1).

The Opposition politicians Pablo Perez and Diego Arriablame President Hugo Chavez for supporting armed militias. The President says he does not support children using assault weapons.

After this issue became so heated, La Piedrita said that the weapons that the children were holding were not real, and were made of plastic, to remember and celebrate breaking up of guerrilla groups which happened in 1960 (Ramsey,1).

Conclusion

There have been many controversies with President Hugo Chavez. He has encouraged the common man to use weapons for political reasons and this has led to the formation of civilian militias. This has caused an increase in violence in the city.