Most of the tinpot dictators, worldwide, are horrified at the very idea of the peasants getting guns. Try to sailing in the Woest Indies, or the South Pacific, or anywhere else, including New York harbor, with a stainless Mini-14. Having it on board is enough to buy you a few years in some Third World horror show.
On top of which, any history of piracy points out that pirates can't function without a safe port to hide in and sell booty. That means corrupt port officials, and a corrupt government getting it's share of the swag.
Most of the tinpot dictators, worldwide, are horrified at the very idea of the peasants getting guns Hillary Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Osama Obama (or whatever his name is) all hate the idea of peasants with guns for the exact same reason that you mentioned.