Armed protesting will do nothing more to change the government’s clearly stated course of action than unarmed protesting has.

You're confusing a psychological issue with a sociological one...

Half of all ICE agents could be killed in the streets tomorrow and it wouldn't change the governments view, stance, policy, action, anything...

But the cowards out there doing it?

They're willing to do it because no one will hold them accountable. If they think there's an actual chance someone holds them accountable in the moment, they're just gonna leave.

When they feel that way everywhere, they still won't escalate to shooting first, because then they know others will shoot back.

They can't shoot 10 people at once. And they're not willing to die for this shit, just willing to kill for it. So it doesn't matter how much we die, just how likely they think their own death could be worst case scenario in the moment.

Zero actual violence required, and it results in a net decrease in violence...

I swear motherfuckers never heard:

Speak softly and carry a big stick