That "protest gone off the rails, with a few bad actors" would have absolutely executed a member of Congress or the Vice President if given the chance. And they got unbelievably close to being able to do that. They had weapons, armor, bloodlust, restraints, and smaller organized extremist groups.
How can you not see that as an "existential threat to the republic"?
How can you not see that as an "existential threat to the republic"?