It is a matter of politics. If you done take care of the home front or don't take care of your supporters, then you may have rebellion.
While they had pistols, Hi-Powers and for that matter other brands as well, available on the commercial market, the situation was not as it would have been here. There you would have need a permit or other official approval to purchse a pistol. It was not a matter of anyone just walking in off the street and purchasing a pistol.
This does tend to reduce the demand.