The culture of incompetence, crime, failure, and collapse will become normalized? Not on my turf.

You are being way too optimistic. A lot of people will needlessly die, not only from violence but also disease, starvation, suicide and natural disasters.

People will be in danger either way with the violence prone goons in power. If you are armed, there will be justification to shoot you. Protest at more public and friendly places. That way you will likely have allies nearby. Also, folks need to be situationally aware and plan an escape path if things turn too dangerous.