It wasn't half. And the reaction was probably affected by any shooting. In other words, someone shooting next to you could be taken as being shot at yourself or that there was an immediate danger that caused that person to shoot.
That's why the protesters shouldn't have attacked armed troops. It's a dangerous act. Not just to the troops or themselves but to by-standers.
I would agree that they were not consistently disciplined. That isn't illegal and it doesn't change the fact that they were being attacked by rioters.
It only takes one to shoot to trigger a volley of shots from the troops around them. I believe that is a common phenomenon amongst armed groups. Are you trying to say that every troop present should have instantly felt the same threat at the same time in order for there to have been a threat at all?
You have not provided any links with any evidence beyond those peoples word for it. So, it is no stronger evidence than anyone else's word for it.
The FBI files also include accounts that contradict everything you claim. The Kent article I linked to, based on eye-witness accounts, contradicts many of your claims.
As I have already pointed out, my position doesn't rely on that article at all. I posted it as an interesting piece of relevant, recent news.
But, I can see how you would try and make that central to the debate since you have nothing on this:
Disbursing a riot and defending yourself = legal
Rioting and attacking the National Guard = illegal
It's true that court decisions are not always correct. However, multiple court decisions involving the same evidence that you are presenting is stronger evidence than your personal preference to believe cherry picked pieces of evidence.
Disbursing a riot and defending yourself = legal
Rioting and attacking the National Guard = illegal
The guardsmen were doing their job. The rioters were attacking them. We allow people to defend themselves when they are attacked in this country.

