Maybe not all of them were ready for violence, but a lot of them were prepared. They didn't forget to bring guns, many had guns on them inside the Capitol building.. There were people with zip-tie handcuffs.. They were a hair's breadth away from politicians who were their targets of ire, who they believed were stealing their country, when Ashli Babbitt breached the last barrier and reached the last line of defense before being shot. Behind Babbitt was a hallway/staircase full of insurrectionists.

Few started the day with a desire to get into the Capitol. Many were swept up in the moment by following far right extremist groups who were executing a plan to get in. Though we know how far they went following those extremists, we'll never know how much farther they would have gone had those same extremists managed to reach politicians. Thank goodness they were stopped otherwise this may be a very different country.