

I think the counterpoint is that when something like Kent state happened, the government backed down. The question will be if they’re willing to use live rounds in the future and not back down (not that less lethal munitions are much better, but it is different).
So the military was justified in their actions at tiananmen square?
My point is that the US has not been willing to escalate by using live rounds or military intervention in over half a century (at least to my recollection) against its citizens.