I'm all for the arming bit but would caution against going into the areas altogether. A lone armed citizen, caught in one of those areas is still likely to be overwhelmed and then it will be turned around about how they "went in with intent to wreak havoc" and be used to further fuel the race baiters.
Prudent advice on avoiding such areas altogether. The threat zone is 360° horizontal and vertically as high as the highest building.
Even armed police groups are not safe in such zones.
As proof I offer the photo of a ‘yout’ proudly brandishing a broken Lexan police shield as a trophy. An example of training and doctrine failure. Don’t know if the officers were overwhelmed to become casualties or merely fled leaving their useless shields behind.
Rocks lobbed from a crowd or thrown from rooftops can be as deadly as bullets.