Guns and Democracy

Mao Tse Tung said that political power comes from the barrel of a gun (ie the ability of one person to force their will on another by violence or the threat of violence).

Yet there is that line in Monte Python and the Holy Grail that says "The sole legitimate source of supreme executive authority is a mandate from the masses." which I believe is a quote from Karl Marx, though I cannot find it.

On the surface these two, both socialist by the way, ideas are contradictory, unless you do it the American way. The barrel of the gun is in the hands of the masses so the mandate from the masses is insured. Again, an armed populace assures democracy.

Just a thought.