>

And if they'd won - ie if the democratic election had been overturned in the courts through some subterfuge - they'd be arresting and jailing Democrats on false pretences and guys like this or the Michigan kidnappers would be looking for Democrats to shoot in the knowledge the courts would seek to protect them.
The party of law and order are shooting up their opponents. This is where we are now. >

They will not stop. 
We are well past the point of justifying self-defense. >

Two quotes by Abe Lincoln stand out about this:
Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
Speech at Edwardsvill, IL, September 11, 1858
At what point then is the danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we ourselves must be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all times, or die by suicide.
Young Men's Lyceum Address, January 27, 1838 >

Of course they weren't. Stop and think this through for a second. Some of them genuinely believe that elections are rigged, that some fascistic force within the government is going to force them to do horrible things or be jailed or killed if they oppose it, and most importantly that they are capable of stopping it. Anyone who truly believes that is going to fight against that fascistic force and some of them are going to do it violently.
At some point, the government really needs to look at some way to reign in the far-right propaganda outlets such as requiring licensing to call yourself a "news outlet", "journalist", or other similar thing.