A military coup d'état is a sudden, often violent, overthrow of an existing government by a group of military officials. This is usually followed by the suspension of the constitution and the establishment of military rule. The military takes control of the government, dissolves the parliament or legislature, and takes over other state institutions. In some cases, the coup leaders may also impose restrictions on civil liberties and human rights, and may even break diplomatic relations with foreign countries. However, it is not typically followed by the mass importation of firearms, as the military would already have access to weapons.