We don't have to do any of this. We just need to have the same preparations that were (wisely) in place for the BLM protests in DC, to also be in place for any other major protest with the potential to go off. And then enacted if a threat arises.
It takes a large number of people to pull off what they pulled of on Tuesday.
And no need for tear gas unless and until an attack is mounted.
Regardless of who the protestors are, the moment it becomes more than a peaceful protest teargas is a pretty safe tool compared to everything else in the arsenal. "LTL" projectiles are really nasty and easily mis-used, tasers fairly consistently produce deaths on a segment of the population with heart defects, and baton fighting is basically open melee combat.
Oh, I agree that it should be used once a riot is declared. I just think its use was probably a bit premature in DC over the summer, although I'd need to go back and review the footage myself to be sure. I can't trust the media to report incidents like this fairly anymore.
It takes a large number of people to pull off what they pulled of on Tuesday.
And no need for tear gas unless and until an attack is mounted.