Respectfully, even if there was a strong recognized militia they had a tank I cannot follow the reasoning. We're a troubled democracy, but the army is practic

Respectfully, even if there was a strong recognized militia they had a tank I cannot follow the reasoning. We're a troubled democracy, but the army is practically saintly to many. A sample size of 1 is small, but does anyone here NOT know someone in the military? If so, would you shoot your fellow countrymen? I understand how quickly people abandon their principles in times of crisis, but in 230 years and we've had one civil war?