A violent reaction is just what they're hoping for. It would give Dear Leader a golden opportunity to crack down, declare martial law and use his "Justice" Department to start filling prisons with anyone who dissents from his radical vision. He might even suspend elections "in the public interest."
Dear God help us then. But it might not turn out like that; it’s not like anyhting has turned out the way Dear Leader thought it would, with the plummeting ratings and the fact taht he is being held (rightly) responsible for the destroyed US economy. Besides, we have guns after all.